Interplexus changed its proprietary formula for Seriphos, a phosphorylated serine product, sometime March/April 2016. It was changed to a form which no longer worked for many people with the anxiety and insomnia that is associated with high levels of cortisol at night.
Thanks to feedback from folks in my community I investigated and blogged about this here: Seriphos has been reformulated – what do I use to lower high cortisol?, sharing information about labeling confusion and many possible alternatives. I also looked into Relora, a standardized/patented Magnolia bark extract and Phellodendron bark extract, as a very viable alternative.
But I was hoping, as were many of you, that they’d hear all the requests and complaints from their loyal users and practitioners like myself and bring back the original formula.
This week a number of people in my community notified me that the original Seriphos is back so I reached out to Interplexus again. I had been watching their site and had not seen any announcement just a banner stating it’ll be ready Dec 2016 (which is still on the site as of this writing). So I emailed Interplexus earlier this week:
Just checking to see if you have a status update on this please? When will it be ready and when can we expect to see it in online stores? Can it be purchased from Interplexus directly? Can you also please share how we’ll know it’s the new formulation and are you able to guarantee it’s the exact same formula as before?
And the response from Interplexus:
Seriphos has been in stock for about 3 weeks now and is widely available online, we are suggesting retail customers search the product online and purchase from the most convenient retailer because at this time we [Interplexus] are wholesale only. However we will be venturing into retail in the future.
The label now has a red triangle on the left side that states “Original Formula.” To avoid confusion we are asking that customers purchase from online stores that have the updated label. We can assure you that it is the exact same formula as before.
The Original Formula of Seriphos is now back! And we’re thrilled! Thank you Interplexus!
This is what the old bottle looked like before it was reformulated. The label reads: Proprietary Blend 1000mg Phosphorylated Serine/Ethanolamine.
This is the label from the “Original Formula” – the new Seriphos just reintroduced
As you can see the new “Original Formula” has the red triangle on the front and the back also reads: Proprietary Blend 1000mg Phosphorylated Serine/Ethanolamine.
I’m sharing all this and the images for a few reasons:
- There was some confusion with the labels when it was reformulated earlier in 2016 (you can see what I mean here)
- If you need it I want to make sure you get the correct one and
- In the last week I’ve had three reports from people who have the “Original Formula” and feel it’s not working as before.
I’m going to stay optimistic and hope they’ll see results after another week of use (maybe 2 weeks tops), although in the past I have had many clients say they notice a difference in a few days.
If you have new “Original Formula” and have started using it again and have observed it’s not working as before here are a few things to consider:
- Give it a week or two to see if it’s going to work for you
- Keep a food mood sleep log to make sure nothing else is affecting your anxiety and sleep (like accidental gluten exposure, caffeine, high FODMAPs food if you have SIBO
- Your cortisol high may have shifted in the time you weren’t taking the old Seriphos pre-April 2016 and you may need to retest your salivary cortisol levels and adjust the timing accordingly
- Think back to try and figure out if anything else may have change between then and now (a new medication started, a medication stopped, new supplements, dietary changes etc)
If this is the first time you’re reading about Seriphos here is some additional information: If you have high nighttime cortisol (as measured by an adrenal saliva test) it can cause insomnia and anxiety. Using 1-3 x Seriphos about 1-3 hours before the high cortisol is the best way I know for lowering the high cortisol and providing relief.
Here is some feedback from someone who commented on the blog:
I have been tested for cortisol and I have extremely high levels day and night. The old Seriphos [pre-April 2016] was working for me to reduce the internal jitters which would wake me several times a night with heart pounding and adrenalin rushing. I do not have a problem turning my brain off going to sleep – just problems waking several hours later (sometimes several times a night) – sometimes not being able to get back to sleep because I am wide awake.
And feedback from Julie Matthews, Certified Nutrition Consultant, Author of Nourishing Hope for Autism and founder of Bioindividual Nutrition Institute:
Seriphos is the best thing I found to combat high cortisol levels in the evening. I don’t need to take it every day, but if there is an event that gets my cortisol up such as: travel, speaking at a conference, or doing taiko too late at night, I could be awake for hours from high cortisol. When I take Seriphos, I can literally feel my system dramatically ratcheting down moment by moment and within an hour or less I am easily able to go to bed and sleep. I have tried other supplements and none of them work nearly as well as Seriphos for me. I’m so glad the “Original Formula” is back.
If you do have the new “Original Formula” and used the old Seriphos pre-April 2016, have you started using it again? We’d love to hear how you’re doing and how it compares to the Seriphos pre-April 2016?
If you’re a practitioner and have used the old Seriphos pre-April 2016 with success for helping clients/patients lower high cortisol we’d love to hear your feedback on the new “Original Formula.”
Thanks for the initial alert about the reformulation, thanks if you shared pictures with me, thanks if have been asking questions and sharing feedback here on the blog, and thanks if you contacted Interplexus! I love the community we are creating here!
UPDATE 3/7/2020: The new “Original Formula” of Seriphos is the same as the old Seriphos pre-April 2016 and is working as it always did, helping to lower high cortisol levels in order to ease anxiety that is due to high cortisol and improve sleep issues that are caused by high night-time or early morning cortisol. (I’ve been replying to comments to this effect but forgot to come back and update the blog.)
Would love to know if this product really works. My sleep is terrible and I have tried GABA Calm and PharmaGaba and many others without much success.
Moira
This product really works only if the sleep issues are due to high cortisol at night. I should say the pre-April 2016 Seriphos did this – we’re optimistic the new “Original Forumula” Seriphos does this too.
We always have to figure out the root cause and address that. GABA won’t help if the insomnia is not due to low GABA.
I have been hearing a lot about gaba. I’ve tried so many things without success. I have a diurnal cortisol pattern than was triggered 13 years ago after delivering my son. Before delivery I could sleep 8- 10 hours no problem. When hed nap I couldn’t fall asleep. When hed sleep through the night I would wake every 4 hours. My obgyn put me on amitriptyline for sleep, exposed vaginal nerve endings and going to the bathroom all the time. I was on that for 10 years not knowing it was bad for me. I was tapered off and immediately back to waking exactly 5 hours after falling asleep. I’ve tried lots of things, essential oils, melatonin, amino acids, cortisol supplements, meditation etc. I still wake at 5 hours. The oils help me fall asleep faster but I dont stay asleep. After finally go chemical free and getting hormones tested, do a yeast protocol, gut cleanses, trying to kill yeast and bacteria etc. I learned I’m very low on estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and my cortisol spikes at night waking me up.
I just bought the 750 mg Gaba tablets at the store. I slept 6 hours instead of 5.
To throw a wrench into matters, my husband 2 5 weeks ago filed for divorce and moved out adding more stress and nightmares. Further disturbing my sleep ever 1-2 hours. I wake up ruminating over the scenarios and unresolved issues. I crave pasta and sweets(probably the yeast and bacteria 4 types). Is there a test for low gaba or low serotonin? I really needro sleep. Is there anything that could have happened during labor and delivery to cause this cortisol shift. Thanks, sorry for such detail.
Jayme, in my experience with my sister dealing with insomnia from depression and anxiety, Lidtke tryptophan in powder form was what worked best for the insomnia. I encourage you to do the aminoacid questionnaire to find a proper dose, and (if you score high for low serotonine) take tryptophan at dawn and before bedtime. And if you still wake up in the middle of the night you can take a bit more tryptophan (half or quarter the dose you take) to help you fall sleep again. From our experience, it works very well and pretty fast. My sisters condition improved with the help of Trudy’s aminoacids protocol and holistic psychological support, it took long but the sleep disorder was corrected in a few days with tryptophan. She started with a dose of 500 mg at dawn and 1000 mg at night, and went gradually up to a dose of 500 mg at dawn and 1500 mg at night, which was what worked for her.
Now, when she gets a hard time with sleeping well, a much lower tryptophan dose before bedtime works, and ashwaghandha also helps with relaxing at night and having a better sleep (she takes 1/4 tsp of tryptophan -about 375 mg- and 1/4 tsp organic ashwagandha powder -about 800 mg-, and it works very well, I too take that same dose when stressed out and gets me to have a very good and restful sleep. Blessings
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
Ana
Thanks for helping out and sharing what’s worked so well for your sister. I am curious if she first tried tryptophan mid-afternoon and evening before using it dawn and evening? The mid-afternoon and evening is the recommended timing because that’s when serotonin starts to go down.
I love that she used the titrating method to find her ideal amount and then adjusted accordingly – so glad how much it’s helped her and you too!
Trudy, I confused the word, I meant dusk (mid-afternoon, about 5-6 pm) not dawn! Just as sugested by you. Sorry about that, I’m not a native English speaker. Wish I could edit that.
When she took the tryptophan at night only, she would still have problems sleeping. So taking it mid afternoon helped a lot. Sleep disorder was a big issue for her. Aminoacids were life changing for her, dealing with anxiety and depression for years and having to deal with the consequences of abuse and violence (trauma, fear, nightmares, recurring suicide thoughts, loss of interest in life…). What worked for her was DLPA first thing in the morning and at noon, tryptophan at mid afternoon and before bed. She started with DPA but it was not working with the morning anxiety that was very high, so we tried DLPA (Source Naturals brand) and it did help. Gaba worked best when she had anxiety crisis and panic attacks. We also used bach flowers, vits and minerals for additional support, but the aminoacids were definitely what stabilized her. After some time, having learned from the experience she had that she had been victim of what is known as an integrated psychopath, and the dependency/addiction effect those relationships cause on the victims’ mind, I though it would be a good idea to try adding taurine (since according to the experts the addiction mechanism in such cases is quite similar to that of a drug adiction), and from what I witnessed I’m sure it helped my sister a lot with recovering her own self, her tranquility and freedom.
I could help my sister and am helping others with what I learned here and on your book, so I couldnt be more grateful for the work you do. Love and blessings!
Ana
Not a problem and thanks for clarifying. Love the wonderful benefits she has experienced!
I would love to share some of this in a future blog post if that’s ok?
Yes, it’s ok 🙂
By the way, I always had this question about taurine, what is the maximum daily dose you can have? The general information I could find stated maximums that seemed to be low, but I sticked to those because I wasn’t sure if I could safely go higher as with tryotophan, dlpa, etc. Thanks!
Seriphos has been a huge game changer for me – but it is out of stock EVERYWHERE!!
Any knowledge of what is going on and do you know of an alternative product – many have fillers that I cannot tolerate.
thanks so much
Great blog!!
Charley
Good to hear and thanks for the positive feedback! Please do share how it’s helped you? I’m not aware of shortages and do see it available via my online store (more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-online-supplement-store-at-fullscript/)
I do also share some other possible options at the top of the blog:
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/seriphos-reformulated-high-cortisol/
and
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/
Salivary test indicates elevated cortisol at 11:30 pm and very elevated 7:00 am. (Resulting from extreme chronic stress due which caused 10 months of extreme insomnia, and sleep anxiety which would grant me 1-4 hours of sleep)
Daytime cortisol levels normal range but on the higher end of normal range.
I have no problem falling asleep but I wake up approximately 4 times per night. 3:30-4:00 extremely hard to ever fall back asleep.
I have been taking seriphos for 3 weeks and it has really helped allot with stress levels. I am able to fall back alseep now (less the 3:30-4:00 awakening)
I have been taking 1 seriphos at 10-10:30, one on my next awaking around 12-1:00 one next awaking 2 one next awaking 3. So 4 in total.
I see you recommend just taking 3 at bedtime, even if morning cortisol levels are elevated the highest. Do you not recommend taking and during any awakening in the night?
I still wake up every night like clockwork prior to seriphos, however much calmer and more able to fall back alseep.
Should I change to 3 before bed and stick it out for another couple weeks/months? Or just continue on as 3 weeks may just be to early for real dramatic changes for me personally.
1-3 hours prior to elevated I don’t know what to do with when entire nighttime is elevated. Which is why I’m trying the split up dosage.
Any advice? Thank you
Mj
Great to hear it’s helped with the stress. I use 3 Seriphos a few hours before the high night time cortisol and if needed use lactium for night wakings and in the morning (when cortisol is elevated)
Lactium® (alpha-s1 casein hydrolysate/hydrolyzed casein) for lowering high cortisol, reducing anxiety and improving sleep https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/lactium-alpha-s1-casein-hydrolysate-hydrolyzed-casein-for-lowering-high-cortisol-reducing-anxiety-and-improving-sleep/
And we address why cortisol is elevated – stress, toxins, infections, gluten etc all covered in my book The Antianxiety Food Solution. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Hi Trudy
I have been taking Seriphos for 2 months now. I did not see any improvement over the first 5 weeks, but when I read someone’s post online that they took 4 tablets 4-6 hours before bed and 4 an hour before bed. I tried this and it worked for the first 3 days I was able to go to sleep easily, but after that it only worked every second day until I realised I needed to order more before I ran out. I had to cut this down by a half only taking 4 tablets 4-6 hours before bed for 4 days before new tablets arrived. But ever since it has not worked and every night I have to take either a sleeping tablet or antidepressant to go to sleep. Have you any suggestions, I am at the end of my rope, seriously considering suicide
Brenda
I’m sorry to hear you are struggling with sleep – I know first hand how brutal it can feel. Unfortuntately I have not heard of this kind of high dose use of Seriphos or used it with clients so can’t comment.
With sleep issues I have clients looks into the following if addressing high cortisol with Seriphos doesn’t help: low GABA, low serotonin, low melatonin, low blood sugar, low magnesium, gluten/caffeine/sugar/alcohol/collagen consumption, various food allergies, sex hormone imbalances, SIBO, parasites, EMFs, oxalates, low ox bile.
I encourage to enlist the help of a trusted family member, friend and/or therapist too.
I ordered this and get a deeper sleep but I still wake at 2 and 4 a.m. As a result, I still feel tired even though I get into REM now. Any further suggestion as to how I can break this years long cycle of waking at 2 and 4?
Trudy. Thanks for all your effort and progress in working out the “old” and “new” Seriphos issue. I am one of the ones who found that the old Seriphos worked for me to lower high levels of cortisol during the night. But I am one who first likes to research the “ingredients” before putting something into my system. Is there a way for someone to research both phosphorylated and phosphaditidyl serine and let us all know what the difference is and how each of the serines work? Taking 3000 mg of the phosphorylated compared to 200 of the phosphatidyl serine seems a very large dosage. How does this affect one’s system? Is Seriphos like ibuprofen merely stopping symptoms or is it truly working as an adaptogen to lower cortisol by treating the cause of the high cortisol? And what exactly is the role of Ethanolamine? And why did they stop making the original formula in spring 2016? Were there injuries to people from it? The internet has very little on this but I imagine there should be some research papers on it. I wonder if you could cite some links for us so we are clear in what we are putting into our bodies and why…
Anu
You’re welcome – it’s important to me because I know how effective it is for my clients in lowering cortisol and giving symptom relief. And I know so many like you have battled not having access. It’s not a band-aid like ibuprofen but we do still need to get to root of why cortisol is high and address that.
I’m going to gather some material to answer the phosphorylated and phosphaditidyl serine difference question and how they work, the research and the mg dosage differences.
I don’t have an answer to this: the role of Ethanolamine (but have emailed Interplexus)
I have heard that they reformulated the product due to an internal partnership dispute and it had nothing to do with the product or any issues with injuries from it. I may be wrong so am waiting to hear back from Interplexus on this one too. It’s a good question they should address.
Trudy, so many thanks for your speedy and to the point responses to my questions. I salute you. Awaiting further responses you may receive.
Anu
Here are the questions I sent to Interplexus and their responses
================================================
“1) what is the difference between phosphorylated and phosphaditidyl serine and how does each one work?
Phosphorylated serine or phosphoserine is a compound of serine and phosphate without the fatty acid chains. Phosphatidylserine contains two fatty acids chains in addition to the serine and phosphate.
(Please refer to answer 3 for the second part of your question)
2) Taking 3000 mg of the phosphorylated compared to 200 of the phosphatidyl serine seems a very large dosage. How does this affect one’s system? Is Seriphos like ibuprofen merely stopping symptoms or is it truly working as an Adaptogen to lower cortisol by treating the cause of the high cortisol? [Trudy’s addition: AS A PRACTITIONER I KNOW SERIPHOS LOWERS HIGH CORTISOL VERY EFFECTIVELY BUT IS THERE RESEARCH ON THIS]
Seriphos provides phosphorylated serine in a chelate form of magnesium and calcium. Each capsule of Seriphos contains 1000 mg of a proprietary blend that supplies 90 mg of serine phosphate as a magnesium and calcium derivative in a base of magnesium and calcium ethanolamine phosphates. The amounts of mineral nutrients provided per capsule are 45 mg of elemental magnesium, 45 mg of elemental calcium, and 190 mg of elemental phosphorus.
Seriphos contains key nutrients for stress resiliency. Seriphos was developed to aid in lowering cortisol when cortisol levels are elevated due to acute and chronic stress. Evidence suggests that the ingredients in Seriphos support the stress response by normalizing cortisol levels and reducing an individual’s perceived negative response to stress.*
3) what exactly is the role of Ethanolamine?
Seriphos provides pure phosphorylated serine or phosphoserine along with a synergistic blend of magnesium and calcium ethanolamine phosphates to promote a more balanced and healthy stress response.* Phosphorylated serine and ethanolamine phosphate serve as metabolic building blocks for the synthesis of phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), cell membrane phospholipids that regulate key aspects of cellular function.
Phosphorylated Ethanolamine vs. Phosphatidylethanolamine(PE)
Phosphorylated Ethanolamine is also called Phosphoethanolamine. It lacks the fatty acid chains and is used to form phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). PE is one of a class of phospholipids (like phosphatidylserine) which are crucial components of cell membranes, acting as building blocks while having a role in the transport of nutrients and cell signal transmissions across cell membranes. PE can be used to synthesize PS.
4) And why did Interplexus stop making the original formula in spring 2016? Were there injuries to people from it?
Seriphos has been a successful and safe formula for the past 28 years, and it continues to be so. No injuries have been sustained.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
==============================================
I appreciate them sending all of this and I hope this helps. Some of it is clear to me, some not so clear but I have it on my list to continue to look into.
The main thing for me is that no harm has been caused by the pre-April 2016 Seriphos and from a clinical point of view we know it works really well to lower high cortisol and offer relief for insomnia and anxiety caused by high cortisol
Trudy
Hi!
I’ve been on Seriphos for three years. It helped tremendously with waking due to high nighttime cortisol.
I’m researching now and I see everywhere says to not take it for more than 3 months!! I repeat the cortisol periodically and it’s always high at night. Any thoughts?
Thanks so much. Your info is so helpful!
Hello Trudy,
I am using taurine to help me sleep. Don’t know if you remember me but Id like to try this. I went to purchase on amazon but found a lot of negative reviews for 2016. Just wondering if you have a trustworthy website you can share with us. Thanks a bunch.
Ivy
I did respond to your question as follows on this blog https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/5-htp-tryptophan/
Here is a good taurine product from Pure Encapsulations https://www.emersonecologics.com/Products/EmersonMain/PID-TAU10.aspx. If you’d like to get it from Emerson you can get the account signup details from this post https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
Be sure to check that you want to see replies so you are notified when I respond to a comment/question
Thank you Trudy,
I missed your recommendation on the taurine. You remembered me .
I was referring to a good source as to where to purchase the original seriphos.
Thanks again.
Ivy
Yes I did remember you!
And yes Amazon the many negative reviews would be of the reformulated version that was introduced around April 2016. Reviews before that date and in 2017 would be the ones to consider.
Please see the response from Interplexus above – they are saying to make sure to get a bottle with the red triangle with “Original Formula”
Thanks for asking the question – it’s important for folks to know this
Trudy, I just placed my order for the seriphos on amazon, lets see what happens. Where can I ask a question about EPO vs Bodybio. Thanks again.
Feel free to ask here
After charting out your pyrolia questioner. I found a doctor to test my son for it, she also did the questioner. One of the supplements she suggested for my son on waiting for the test results were BODYBIO BALANCE OIL.
I see on your list for children,you recomend BODYBIO EVENING PRIMROSE OIL.
On your list I decide to try for myself the NOW brand 1300 EVENING PRIMROSE OIL. which is working awesome for me.
After I sent in the pyloria urine test, I decide to put my son on the SOLORAY OPTIZINC in the morning and at night he would take a tablespoon of the BODYBIO BALANCE OIL.
Our appointment with the doctor is 2 months away so this is why I decided myself to try him on the SOLORAY OPTIZINC.
He has been telling me about all his dreams that he wish would come true! So this makes me happy. He is still afraid to enter any rooms with out a sibling, I still don’t know why. And he gets startlled easily, his heart is pounding of his chest if he did not know someone was in a room that he enters. And he still is sensitive to certain sounds we or his siblings make. So I think the OPTIZINC is working dream wise but for his anxiety which is still there maybe not so much.
So the question is???????????
Why Do you recomend the BODYBIO PRIMROSE OIL and not the BODYBIO BALANCE OIL for children. And since you recommend the BODYBIO PRIMROSE OIL, for children is there capsules small enough for them to swallow that you can suggest. He hates to drink the oil but dislikes to take it in anything else anyway.
Ivy
It’s the GLA that is more often low with pyroluria hence the evening primrose oil. Unfortunately the capsules are all very large. I have moms mix the oil in a nut butter or mashed banana and take it that way.
And remember it’s the vitamin B6 that affects dreams and not the zinc.
I’d also look into low serotonin if I was working with him, plus low GABA and adrenals (because of being easily startled).
From your responce I am guessing I should then give him the BODYBIO PRIMROSE OIL.
Tonight I went to my local health food store, and a bottle of EVENING PRIMROSE OIL jumped out at me, 500mg. the back label reads ………
GLA 45mg
Cis Linoleic Acid 350mg
Oleic Acid 35mg
Palmitic Acid 30mg
Evening Primrose Oil Seed 500mg
I purchased it to see if this is something I could use on my son. The caps are small.
It says adults take 1 cap 3 times a day.
What do you think about that mixture? and if its okay would I give my son less than 3 per day?
Regarding the B6 for dream recall, The OPTIZINC only contains 20mg of B6, I was not sure if this was enough for him but wanted to start small. I also purchased NOW brand 50mg but have been too afraid to give it to him in case there would be some kind of back fall.
I think he is doing great on the OPTIZINC.
I was thinking low serotonin as well but I would be too afraid to give him anything that may cause some kind of crazy reaction. Remember what happened to me when I tried TRYPTOPHAN.
I think for that I would leave it to the experts.
I would not know what to try on him for serotonin or his adrenals.
What would we be checking in his adrenals?, perhaps I could request it of any of his doctors.
Are you able to take us as clients yet?
My son has a heart murmur and iv been afraid for him when he gets startled for no true real reason. When his heart is beating out of his chest just because he saw me pass by his bedroom door etc…..and he is screaming it scares me that he may be stressing his little heart out.
We laugh about it after wards but I can’t stop thinking that I may outlast him 🙁
Ivy
I can’t give specific advice here for anyone on the blog. Please be aware I’m sharing general advice. It’s hard to know which fatty acids would be beneficial without a fatty acid test but based on tests with 1000s of clients and the research, most clients need EPO.
I do use vitamin B6 as a separate supplement.
I use adrenal saliva testing – a functional medicine doctor can order this and so can other nutrition professionals.
The online consulting will be starting again very soon – we’re just wrapping up training and get our backend set up. I assume you’re on the waiting list
Thanks Trudy, I also just ordered the Taurine from Pure Encaps, but through Amazon. I know some people asked but not sure if they were answered. I just received my Seriphos and wanted to know what could some of the side effects be and do I also drink up some vitamin C in case I don’t feel right on the Seriphos. Thanks a gain.
Yes I’m on the waiting list…………
Okay I will see what works best for my son on a trial.
So far so good though.
I am learning a lot here and there and having a functional Doctor will help as well.
As well as the good books I have on hand.
Thank you aagin for all your help.
GIRL without you I would of never gotten my sleep back this quick….LOVE, LOVE, LOVE TAURINE for that!
Interesting you mention Taurine for sleep Ivy – great that it works so well for you. If I remember correctly, I recall you saying it can be quite stimulating Trudy and may be an issue with sleep. Is this correct for some? Tnx.
Drew
Taurine is calming so I would not have mentioned it being stimulating and affecting sleep – you may be thinking of glutamine (it affects a small subset)?
For some it’s stimulating and I just have them cut back. Vitamin C only works for the amino acids
Thanks Trudy, wondering if it was Tyrosine? Great for mood and motivation but maybe too stimulating if taken too late in the day?
Yes, can’t be taken past 3pm and when insomnia is an issue even earlier in the day can be problematic for some
Hi Trudy
I have watched many blogs and have seen the whole issue with Seriphos. For someone new to this arena, would Seriphos be a good product for me to try? Or would I be better suited to Tryptophan and GABA? I have been working on part of the stress and anxiety issue but a change in insurance companies this month has caused a bit of unrest. I am trying to get an appt with an endocrinologist for some testing as I really don’t know where to go otherwise. I would love to experience some of the successes that several here have had.
Julie
This product really works only if the stress and anxiety issues are due to high cortisol (as measured by a saliva adrenal test).
The pre-April 2016 Seriphos did this – we’re optimistic the new “Original Forumula” Seriphos does this too.
If the anxiety is low serotonin type anxiety (worry in the head, ruminations etc) then a tryptophan trial would be done. If the anxiety is the physical low GABA anxiety then GABA would be worth trialing.
We always have to figure out the root cause and address that.
Have you done the amino acid questionnaire to figure out if it’s low GABA or low serotonin? https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
And keep in mind that only an endocrinologist who is a functional medicine doctor will do the adrenal saliva test.
I’d also assume all the basics are addressed: real food, no caffeine, no sugar, eating for blood sugar balance, addressing gut health, low D, low iron, low zinc etc. I encourage everyone to read my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” for the basics and in depth information on how to use the amino acids safely. You can find it on Amazon http://amzn.to/2jNuLtR
Hi Trudy, first of all thank you for all of this wonderful information. I am just in the process of starting the home study for amino acids. I too have had a high reading on my night time saliva cortisol test and have tried many different supplements to help me sleep.(night time insomnia waking between 2-4) Am wondering if this seriphos will work? My saliva cortisol results were done back in early october 2016. do you suggest repeating the tests or is it okay to still use these results?
Thank you Trudy
Shelley
We do cover this in the homestudy for amino acids course. I would do the trials of tryptophan and GABA per the course as low levels of serotonin and GABA can also affect sleep and waking in the night. If someone has similar symptoms to how they felt when the saliva test was done I would use these (and results that are 3 months old are just fine anyway).
Assuming the “Orginial Formula” is the same as the pre April 2016 formula then yes it will work very well to help lower high cortisol and improve sleep.
Enjoy the homestudy for amino acids course! Please let us know how you do with both the amino acids and Seriphos
I’ve been taking 1 seriphos before dinner and 2 seriphos at bedtime for a few months. Does seriphos ever make you tired the next day?
Great blog post Trudy and THANK YOU for all the work you’ve done on this issue! I’m loving the community here too. 🙂 I have never used Seriphos before but am now 3 days into my trial of the new “Original Formula” – will report back after a week or so with how it’s working for me.
PS. Thank you for including the photo credit. 🙂
Thanks Drew – I really do hope this works for you and offers some relief. I look forward to hearing the update.
And thanks so much for taking the pictures of the “Original Formula” for this blog
Hi Trudy. I am duplicating an edited version of this from my reply to you on FB earlier today in case it may help others on the blog:
Yes, my issues would appear to not be low serotonin or GABA! Have fine tuned the CBD to 1 pump of ELIXINOL 300mg liposomes first thing in the morning and 1 pump at bedtime which has helped a lot with anxiety. Also, 300mg of Seeking Health (Dr Ben Lynch) L-Theanine at bedtime has really been helping with deeper sleep recently along with 1 x Seriphos an hour before bed and 1 if necessary when/if waking anytime between 1 and 4am. I seem to have found a good ‘working’ dose for the Seriphos, still quite early days to tell if it is really working for me but will keep monitoring and keep you posted. But generally sleep started improving about 2 – 3 weeks in to starting the Seriphos and I have had no adverse reactions thankfully. Do you think it is ok to take this much L-Theanine (300mg) before bed indefinitely?
I’m doing all of the aforementioned obviously in conjunction with a healthy Mediterranean/Paleo type diet (organic, grass fed/free range, olive oil, coconut oil, ghee, fermented foods, no gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine etc etc) and lifestyle (nature, exercise, yoga, swimming, vibration plate, sauna, meditation, stress management, EFT, diffusing essential oils, SAD light therapy, cold showers, rest, creativity, purpose, contributing, work, killing ANTS, being present etc etc). Recently incorporating a daily cup or 2 of home made bone broth has also been proving very soothing and (hopefully) healing for my gut. Acne has recently improved hugely and since also starting to use the http://thewellnesstreegroup.com/product/consumer-mask/ in August 2016 along with Andy Hnilo’s https://alituranaturals.com The Mask, The Night Cream and The Moisturizer. These products are incredible! Pure, pure, pure. However, surprisingly, as the acne began to clear up everywhere else on my face, it transitioned into a bit of rosacea around my nose/cheek area so working on investigating/treating that but not sure where that has come from or why?! Maybe a reaction to something?
So, on a better spell thankfully, not purrfect, but gratefully and gradually improving, fine tuning, growing and learning – long may it last! Thank you again for all the wisdom and knowledge you are imparting…
Thanks for sharing your updates and progress – so glad the sleep and anxiety is so much better!
Thanks Trudy, is it ‘safe’ to take 300mg L-Theanine indefinitely?
Clarification: that’s 300mg L-Theanine (at bedtime) indefinitely! 🙂
I’m not aware of any research saying it would be an issue but don’t think it would be a problem. As with any supplementation ideally we should need less once we address root causes. But because of genetics, life circumstances etc we may need some longer term
Drew, have you had good results? I think my problem is cortisol, but just have not ordered yet and would love to know if it is working for you as of yet.
Hello Moira. 🙂 I am still on my trial which admittedly has taken longer than a week for a report back. I had an unfortunate mishap (fall) which set me back a bit and so I couldn’t accurately conclude whether Seriphos was working for me or not. I am back on track again now and trialing and trying different doses, timings etc so it is too early days to come to a conclusion. However, I will say there have been no miracle breakthroughs as yet but I would like to give it a bit longer and as Karla A Maree mentioned, it can take up to 3 weeks for any noticeable results. Sorry I cannot be more conclusive but hope that this has helped somewhat. Good luck with your pursuits of health and wellness! 🙂
Hi Drew!
Yes Taurine makes me so sleeping. I fall asleep and stay asleep, I take one at about 6pm before I eat and even then I don’t feel like eating. Don’t know why but I eat anyway due to low blood sugar feeling.
I never mentioned it but I drink a litter of water with 3 capfulls of DR CAROLYN DEANS ReMAG MAGNESIUM with my TAURINE.
Not all at once but I sip it throughout the day and gulp a lot with the TAURINE.
If you google it people say the combination takes you to bed. Im not sure though.
ReMAG calms me down but does not make me sleepy like TAURINE but perhaps its true the combo does take me to bed, who knows.
Ivy
Hi Trudy
Very excited to hear that are now in Australia.
I have been following your advice for quite some time now in the hope of weaning off long term antidepressants. Can you please advise where I can purchase the product in Australia?
I have attempted to purchase the product from overseas but was unsuccessful.
Many thanks
Lee-Anne
Lee-Anne
Let me see what I can find out
Trudy,i was curious if you have any information on how to heal from low
cortisol levels.
I am an athlete in a lot of pain and very low energy.
Any ideas?
I love your website..you can feel that you really care about your peeps!
I love your beach pictures..you have a life!!!
Thank you,Allison Shayne
Allison
I have yet to do a blog on this topic but have added it to the list. It’s very common with athletes. A few things I use with my clients- B complex, vitamin C, extra pantothenic acid, rhodiola. I’d also address over-exercise if this is happening and often all strenuous and aerobic exercise has to be stopped altogether in order to heal. Adding in yoga, tai chi, HeartMath etc helps.
And looking for root causes and addressing these (assuming it’s more than too much exercise) – like gluten, parasites, stress etc
Thanks too for your kind words 🙂 and glad you’re enjoying the beach pictures. I think I’ll have to do a blog on this and share them that way
I am new here. I’ve been struggling with chronic insomnia for over 11 years. A couple of years ago, I read about high cortisol levels being a cause of my problem. I ordered a kit to check my saliva cortisol at 4 times of the day and night and it was high. My primary care doctor will not treat me for this because he calls it alternative medicine. I have since seen a naturopath and she has suggested Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager and Ortho Molecular Products AdreneVive. Both of these contain Phosphatidylserine. I took them both for a year and saw no improvement. I found this site and some other information that says Seriphos is much better for treating high cortisol. Thank goodness they brought back the original formula. I am on day 3 of it. So far, I still feel wired. I have high hopes that this will be the answer to my problem, but still feeling wired is causing me to be less hopeful. I’m probably just expecting results too quickly…at least, I hope that’s all it is.
I started taking Seriphos in the afternoon about 4 hours before bed. Part of my cocktail of meds and supplements for sleep is Lunesta. I build up resistance to it quickly though so I have to take a 1 day break from it every 3 or 4 days. Last night was a break night. I felt relaxed by bed time, but I hardly slept at all. I have read some people have to take Seriphos in the morning instead of afternoon/evening due to not being able to sleep. Any comments on this? I think I am one of those people.
Jerry
Sorry to hear this. Seriphos has always worked best for my clients when used 1-4 hours before the high cortisol. AS I said to Robin I don’t like side effects with supplements – it’s your body telling you something is off. I have had a few clients feel that 3 is too much (with the pre April 2016 Seriphos) and 1 has worked fine. We’d then trial to see if every second day works with no side-effect. I’ve also had very good results with lactium to lower high cortisol. I have not used Relora but the research is encouraging https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/
If the insomnia is low GABA or low serotonin related then GABA and tryptophan trials would be done.
When I hear Lunesta and cocktail of meds and supplements it makes it hard to tease out which is the issue. I have my clients log all combinations clearly. Also some meds can have delayed side-effects so it can often be challenging to figure out.
I have some Lactium ordered. I’ve tried GABA and am currently taking tryptophan, but neither seem to have a positive effect.
I’ve been thinking about your reply and maybe my problem is I am taking too much Seriphos. I have been taking 4. I guess maybe more is not always better. I have a vacation coming up in a couple weeks. I am going to try taking just 1 before bed when I don’t have to work the next day and see what happens.
Trudy,
You said that some people have said that 3 Seriphos a day is too much. What was the problem they were experiencing that made them feel 3 was too much. For me, so far, it has not helped at all with my insomnia, instead, it has made it worse. I started taking 4 a day. I am taking a break from it until my sleep gets back to the way it was before I started taking Seriphos. Once I get there, I am going to try just one a day and see what happens. After being in here for a short while, I noticed this site is mostly for women. I hope it’s ok that I am a male. We get insomnia too! 🙂
Jerry
Too much can cause agitation in a very few people (that I’ve worked with). All this works for men too! The site will be changing to Anxiety Nutrition Solutions to be inclusive!
Trudy,
I am currently not taking Seriphos. I think I started out taking too much of it and I was having more trouble sleeping and feeling wired. Since then I have received Lactium (The Swanson’s brand) and have been taking that. At first, it helped me relax, but the last couple of days, I am starting to feel wired after taking it too. Ever heard of this reaction from Lactium? I have been taking between 6-9 of them per day throughout the day. Too much maybe?
Jerry
Too much of any nutrient can cause an opposite reaction so I like to build up slowly. I have had some clients using up to 9 per day and do fine
Ok. I have started the Seriphos again. Just one a day about 1.5 hours before bed. So far it is not keeping me awake like when I first started it. I’m going to stay off the Lactium for now. If I can go a week or two with just one Seriphos a day and not have any problems, I will try two a day at the same time. How does that sound Trudy?
It took about a week and a half, but taking just one Seriphos about an hour before bed started keeping me awake again. I’m afraid Seriphos just is not the answer for me. I’m now giving Relora a try.
Jerry
Sorry to hear this – please let us know how you do. And please see feedback from Anu in the blog comments. She used the pre April 2016 Seriphos with success and after 20 days trialing the Jan 2017 original Seriphos finds it’s waking her with a jolt.
I see some people mention TAURINE here so I did a little reading on it and it seems like something I need to try to help with sleep. I just ordered some.
Jerry
I have not used taurine for reducing high cortisol and see no evidence that it works directly in this manner. It could help indirectly by raising GABA levels (and this often helps with insomnia) but I would use GABA first before using taurine.
I have some positive feedback on Relora https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/
Thanks for the feedback on Taurine Trudy. As far as Relora goes, the directions say one 250mg capsule, 3 times a day. I was thinking about switching it up. Skip it in the morning, take one in the afternoon and two before bed. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Here’s another question…I’ve been reading on what lowers cortisol and one thing that came up is Magnesium in the chelated form. The article said the best ones are magnesium glycinate, fumarte, orotate, or taurate. Any recommendations on which one?
I’ve been on Relora for a week now. I’ve noticed it takes the edge off of my wired feeling a little bit, but so far no difference in sleep. I am trying Lactium again. This time, just one pill a day about an hour before bed.
Trudy, I am following the directions with Relora…1 capsule, 3 times a day. I still see no positive results. I’ve read that it can take 2 weeks to see results with Lactium. It will be 2 weeks on March 17th. If I see no positive results from 1 Lactium at bedtime after 2 weeks, when would you recommend taking another Lactium? 2 at bedtime or 1 earlier in the day and then 1 at bedtime? Also, how many days or weeks between increases in dosage of Lactium?
Jerry
No consulting via the blog 🙂 so this is general feedback. Lactium works best taken at the time of high cortisol and I’ve had clients use up to 6 at one time. I’ve always see results really quickly with clients – at least 1 notch better and then we increase etc. There is no hard and fast rule as it depends on each person
Do you consult over the Internet somehow or only in person?
Jerry
I have a waiting list at the moment https://www.everywomanover29.com/services.html
I tried the new formula last year and it did nothing for me. I bought the newer original formula after reading on your site that it was out. I’m taking one in late afternoon and 2 at bedtime. I have slept soundly 4 nights in a row which is kind of a record for me! Thanks for alerting us about it, Trudy.
Lorraine
Thanks so much for sharing – I’m so happy for you (and very encouraged that Seriphos is back). I’d love to hear if this trend continues past a few weeks.
I’m curious if you had used the pre April 2016 Seriphos (ie before it was reformulated) and if the results are similar to the “Original Forumula”?
Hi, Trudy, since this is a product some of your clients have used in the past I am hoping you have some insight into the following. I have horrible sleep issues and nothing has really helped, even sleep psychology except the old Seriphos formula. It really worked. The problem was that it gave me horrible very vivid nightmares and a bad headache (I almost never have headaches). This would start the second night I would take it. I tried it several times, always with the same result. I was actually afraid to continue taking it. I am wondering if you are familiar with this side effect and know if there is anything I might do to alleviate it. Thank you
Robin
I don’t like side effects with supplements – it’s your body telling you something is off. This is not something any of my clients have reported with the pre April 2016 Seriphos but if they did I’ve have them trial 1 or 2 instead of 3/day or maybe every second day ie find what works with no side-effect. I’ve also had very good results with lactium to lower high cortisol. I have not used Relora but the research is encouraging https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/
Hi, Trudy, thanks for this information. It’s been several years since I tried Seriphos and I took it with Lactium. It’s been awhile, but I don’t think I took more than two Seriphos a day, maybe even only one and probably tried it without the Lactium. The Lactium by itself has no effect on my sleep. I will look into the relora which I don’t believe I’ve ever taken. To be honest I don’t know for sure that I have high cortisol at about four o’clock in the morning but I almost always wake up around that time (for years) and can’t really sleep much after that. I also wake up feeling too warm (though not enough to sweat) which goes away quickly. I’ve had a number of doctors test my morning cortisol which is normal so they assume I don’t have a cortisol problem. Another one was going to give me a 4x in a day test but not a night test. I think that is what I need to request so that I can see what’s going on at 4:00.
Ivy,
Upon reading of your son being so easily startled ( and having a heart condition) , I immediately thought of magnesium.
To my understanding: magnesium is a calming mineral which is deficient in many of us; it is a nutrient helpful as part of a pyroluria program; it is a nutrient that helps boost serotonin production and is important in heart health.
I can tell you that whenever my teen and I begin to be readily startled, we increase our magnesium and see improvement. We take magnesium 250 mg every night at bedtime which helps to calm body and mind and helps our sleep. We use only quality chelated forms for best absorption. If we start to startle easily, we increase our magnesium a bit until we see our systems calm down.
Wishing you and your soon well.
Liz,
Thank you for your response. I actually take DR CAROLYN DEANS ReMag MAGNESIUM myself. My children do not like the taste in their water so I try to do the epsom salt bath.
I do give my son MAGNESIUM TAURATE 125 mg at night, the brand is CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH LTD.
He is 10 and is a skinny little thing but tall.
Maybe he needs more.
Would you kindly share what you and your son take?
Thanks a bunch.
Hello Ivy,
We currently use Country Life Chelated Magnesium 250mg tablets. It is the brand carried by our local store and works fine for us.
I have read that magnesium taurinate is the form favored for heart health.
Ann Louise Gittleman has written some informative pieces on magnesium you might find helpful.
Zinc is also one of the calming minerals. As such, if your son does indeed have pyroluria, starting a regimen of zinc/B6/ other would surely help his body/mind come into better balance.
Like you and your son, I would chuckle when I was so easily startled either at work or at home but I always wondered why my system reacted in such a hyper way. Then I learned about magnesium — from the excellent nutritionists out there like Trudy and Ann Louise. It is a wonderful thing when we begin to understand what is off in our systems and can begin to rebalance and heal with the appropriate nutrients. I hope your son is on his way to better health. Best wishes.
Liz
Thanks for sharing here! And yes magnesium would be one deficiency I’d also consider and it’s also a very common deficiency! I have all my clients add it as well a basic nutrient together with a good copper-free iron-free multivitamin. RBC magnesium is the test to have done to confirm if it’s low.
Thank you so much Liz, I will see how this works out for my son.
I think I responsedin the wrong spot but thank you so much Liz, I will see how this works out for my son.
Dear Trudy,
Thank you for your response. And thank you for letting me know of the RBC magnesium test. I highly value your guidance on which tests are worthwhile. You are truly a guiding light for all of us!
Trudy, do you know why Taurine before bed makes me hyper wired but Magnesium Taurate has a calming effect? Is it the synergy between the magnesium and taurine that makes it metabolise differently? Very curious if you came across any research on this?
By the way, Relora is the best ever supplement for me to facilitate a good night’s sleep. I find it works even better than Seriphos (old formula). Thought I’d mention it here as many people commented that they never tried it. I take 2 before bed and I wake up rested wth no night time waking. It even works very well for my son who has extreme exam anxiety. It is calming and non-sedating and takes the edge off his anxiety so that he can face the day more calmly and focus on the test paper in front of him instead of panicking.
Thank you again Trudy for all you do for women, you are a true inspiration!
Joanna, I am happy to hear this. The original Seriphos, although helping my sleep, would give me vivid nightmares and a headache. I was afraid to keep using it. I am hopeful that Relora may help. Do you have a particular brand that you feel works well? Thanks!
I use NOW. They also have a Cortisol support formula which is a blend of Relora with other adaptogens and vitamins; I take it during the day sometimes but at night just 1-2 Relora. Hope it works for you, too!
Thanks, Joanna. I’m excited to try this.
Joanna
I don’t have an answer about the taurine
Thanks for sharing your Relora results! Glad it’s working for you and your son!
And it could be a good option for folks who can’t tolerate Seriphos
Hi everyone, I’m new to this blog. I was excited to find other people finding answers to lowering high cortisol. I would love to hear feed back on wether the “new old seriphos works. I have very high cortisol and have been trying to find something that will lower it! I’ve struggled with anxiety and panic attacks.
Would Relora help with that also?
Thanks a ton!
Grace
I’ve now had a few reports that the original Seriphos is not working for some people.
Have you used Relora? I’ve had some positive feedback on this https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/
Trudy,
Iv been searching for an ADRENALS SALIVA TEST KIT and there are so many, I don’t know which would be the right one to purchase. Please excuse my asking again but would you also recommend one that you trust.
Many thanks 🙂
I use Diagnostechs which requires working with a practitioner
Hi, Trudy, do you know if this test has five test vials? My NP was going to give me a four vial test (don’t recall the company) but the last test was to be taken around midnight, as I recall. However, I have been waking up every night around 4:00 for years. I only get around 4 to 4 1/2 hours of sleep a night. I’m usually hot when I understand my body temperature should be at its lowest about this time. I would really like to have a test that I could test the cortisol level at this time of night. Thanks
Robin
Many labs over middle of the night 5th vial test. Waking hot – I’d have the NP test sex hormones too as hot flashes from low estrogen can disrupt sleep and so can low progesterone
Thanks, Trudy. My progesterone always tests normal; my estrogen is very low but not out of the range of someone my age (66). Feeling too warm happens only once a night, always around four and I’m only slightly too hot but it does seem to contribute to my waking up. I have had bioidentical estrogen supplementation (which put my estrogen level much higher) which didn’t change the night waking or feeling hot for a few minutes. This is why I think it might be cortisol related.
I would love to hear feed back on the “new original seriphos”. I have high cortisol levels and have been trying to find something tha will lower it. Any feed back would be much appreciated!
Thanks!
Grace
Grace
You’re in the right place to get feedback as people start to report the results they are seeing. I’ll also add additional information as I learn more too
Trudy
I suffer from CFS and generally feel unwell most days with constant back ache and stomache issues. Thankfully I havnt got to a stage where I am bedridden but being a single working mum is taking its toll. I had been having trouble sleeping for some time whihc just amplifes everthing so I started taking the newly formulated Seriphos around 4 weeks ago. My issue was that I mostly wake from 4am onwards feeling like my body is buzzing with Cortisol and I cant go back to sleep. I generally fall asleep ok. I have been taking a tablet just before bedtime and then on the days when I feel a bit wired in the evening, I take one around dinner time aswell. It certainly had an effect as I started to be able to get a good 7 hours sleep (although I literally cant sleep any longer as I wake like an alarm clock and feel like the extra hour of sleep would hel)… but maybe 7 hours really is enough? However, I have found over the last few days that my sleep has become more disturbed again even when taking Seripohos and wondered if you had any thoughts. Do I need to take more or should I have a break for a week as they suggest and come back to it? Is this normal to have some up and down days?
thanks
Amanda
Amanda
The typical plan for Seriphos is 3 taken 1-4 hours before the high cortisol. I also look for other factors when sleep has been good for awhile and have my clients keep a food mood supps sleep log – a new food? accidental exposure to gluten? worse around the period? added a new supplement?
This is an eye opener! From the Mood Cure, the instruction is 4 to 6 hours pre cortisol peak. I have high early morning cortisol (2.7 ng/ml around 2:45). This might mean I am taking it too early, since I am taking it at 9:30? I have taken 2 nightly for 4 nights (original formula) but, so far, no relief from early waking. Not sure if that 1 to 3 hours before cortisol peak means you have to find the ideal time or if any time during that window is ok. If I continue my usual bedtime, I would have to set an alarm to take it near midnight, therefore waking myself an additional time. Confused.
Janie
I don’t have clients wake to take the Seriphos but rather have them use it when going to bed.
This thread may be old. I see Trudy starts new ones quick. But I wanted to share my one and only experience with the SERIPHOS since I take TAURINE to sleep.
I purchase the SERIPHOS weeks ago and was afraid to try it due to any reactions. I decided to take it last night Saturday at 9pm!
I did take my usual dose of 1000mg of TAURINE at 6:30pm, ate dinner at 7pm, felt relaxed and sleepy but forced my self to stay up to take the SERIPHOS.
I was afraid the SERIPHOS was gonna keep me up late so I was ready to take more TAURINE but did not want to take it to close to the last dose which was at 6:30pm.
By 9:45pm I was falling over so I went to bed only to just knock out. Could not care if I did not brush my teeth nor wash off my make-up.
I woke up some time to use the wash room but can’t remember what time that was. I fell back asleep with no issues and woke up feeling nice.
Tonight I will not take my TAURINE and just take the SERIPHOS to see what I can get from it.
Ivy
Thanks for sharing – I hope the benefits continue
SERIPHOS. For sleep. I have high cortisol throughout the day and night as indicated by the adrenal stress test (saliva). Last year, I was taking two capsules of the pre-April 1916 Seriphos prior to bed time and it was working to provide a good 6-7 hours of solid sleep without after effects or side effects.
I held up on purchasing the reformulated post January 1917 Seriphos as I was reading that it was not working for several users. But since I hadn’t found anything better (Relora, Ashwagandha, L-theanine, Holy Basil, GABA)I decided to try it again since Trudy so kindly answered my questions as to its safety (thank you, Trudy).
I bought the new formula February 5 and have been taking one capsule at 5pm and two before bed. Varying it to one capsule at 5 and on at bed time to two at five and one at bedtime.
It does not work. I have been waking 2-5 times during the night with a jolt and heart pounding 75% of the nights in the last three weeks. It’s almost as if the Seriphos is causing it (unlike the first original batch) so I’ve stopped it. Sleeping better with only waking 1-3 times. Ashwaghanda (alone) seems to work best.
I would like to hear from anyone else taking the reformulated Seriphos formula post Jan 1917 to see if you have had the same issues.
Anu
Thanks for letting us know. I am so sorry it’s not working for you and very disappointed to hear this. 20 days of trialing it seems very reasonable to be able to assess the bad effects. The only thing I would say is that it would be very helpful to see current cortisol levels just in case something shifted while you were off the Seriphos. I assume all your symptoms are the same and nothing else has been changed or added or removed (like medications, diet, supplements) so we have the same baseline?
I will continue to gather feedback from others to see if this is a trend with others too. Jerry Bock has shared similar “side-effects” but it’s his first time using it so he doesn’t have a comparison.
And I know you mean pre-April 2016 and not pre-April 1916; and post Jan 2017 and not post Jan 1917 🙂
Hello Trudy,
Without taking the TAURINE and just the SERIPHOS I was relaxed but not enough to go to sleep so I had to take the TAURINE and then I fell asleep…..strange….. however the mix really knocks me out so I will keep trying different ways of taking it.
I have added L-THEANINE at 3pm just before the kids get home WOW!!!! Im really not bothered by the bickering anymore….Just love this amino acid it has also decreased my OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA.
Im glad you recommend trying one amino acid at a time. Thats what I’m doing now and I can feel the difference in each of them.
Thanks again Trudy!
thanks for the update! keep us posted on progress!
I decided not to continue the SERIPHOS, without the TAURINE it did nothing for me but with the TAURINE it would knock me out. I decided to try 2 TAURINES instead of just one and it pretty much worked better than just one TUARINE and or one SERIPHOSE with one TAURINE that knocks me out.
I decided that I don’t like the knock out feeling very much.
So I will continue my TAURINE one or two if needed.
Im not sure if this is right or not but Iv tried TAURINE right after eating with no effect. I do get a full effect taking TAURINE before eating.
Am I right to say that AMINO ACIDS are best taken on an empty stomach?
Thanks a gain Trudy!
Thanks for the update Ivy and yes amino acids are more effective on an empty stomach, away from protein
I have OCD the pure O form. I have been struggling for over a year now with not really being able to get a handle on it. I had been on Setraline for 18 years of a dose of 75mg, when I went thru Menopuase it stop being affective, which I had been symtpom free for over 8 years. My doctor switched me to 75 mg of the generic form of Luvox, I was on that several months and made me very jittery, and not feeling like myself, we lowered the dose to 50mg but, I will got for five or six weeks and feel good and then have two or three weeks where the ocd is bad. I have a very hard time sleeping at night as my mind will just not be able to shut down and sleep many nights of the week. Do you know if you can take this supplement with the generic Luvox of 50mg? I take Luna which I bought on Amazon, when I can’t seem to fall asleep and it helps me sleep for two or three hours and then I am awake. Any informtion would be appreciated.
Kristy
I’m not sure what the pure O form of OCD is? When I hear ” have a very hard time sleeping at night as my mind will just not be able to shut down” I think low serotonin and a trial of tryptophan. For OCD I good results with tryptophan, inositol and a gluten-free diet.
Seriphos is fine to use with medications but I only use it when we know that cortisol is high (via a saliva test).
With sleep issues I’d also think about low GABA, low blood sugar, caffeine and SIBO.
Response to Jerry. I also did research on L-Taurine and have been taking it for three weeks. Sorry. I have high cortisol and it just did nothing for me.
I been using taurine to help me sleep,i have high cortisol. It didn’t do anything. I take taurine with my iron pills to better absorb the iron. I have anemia with restless leg. Life Extension has a protocol for anemia and taurine taken with iron is suppose to help low feritin.
Hi guys, Here’s my experience with taurine. When I have anxiety and sometimes just when I’m hyper, I get heart palpitations. So I searched online to see if there was anything that would help with that. I found a product called Heart Calm. AND wow it really did help. Instead of lying in bed with my heart feeling like it was going to pop, nothing. Well, here’s the thing. It contains in 3 capsules:
300mg… elemental magnesium (taurate, glycinate, chelate0
99mg… potassium
1000mg.. taurine!!!
30mg… COQ10
well one time I ran out of heart calm and had taurine and low and behold, it worked almost as well. Apparently your heart uses lots of taurine. I use both at times. I found taurine at 2000mg really helped me with sleep. Just wondering how much everyone has been taking? Gaba used to help with anxiety but as I have said before it stopped working for me. I am using Relora which does help with high cortisol and am finding it very helpful along with progesterone in calming. I’m using Swansons Relora at a good price and is 250mg.of mag.bark and pheliodendron in one capsule. I use up to three a day, depending on how hyper I am. Hope this helps.
I tried lactium and it didn’t work for me. Im taking a product with relora
l theanine holy basil and magnesium by source naturals. I see a little improvement.
This is in response to Grace’s post on 2-2-17.
I am glad to hear there are others struggling with high cortisol (spit test confirmed). I have been struggling with it for over ten years. In 2015 I has two stents inserted in my heart and I believe the cortisol was the root cause. But what is the root cause of the high cortisol? None of my doctors seem to know.
I tried the old Seriphos from 11-15 to 4-16 and I was sleeping well with taking only 2 caps before bed. But in 4-16 Seriphos changed their formula and it stopped working. I tried the new “old” formula in 2-17 but it seemed to work in reverse – waking me with jolts in the night several times. I stopped Seriphos after three weeks and I still am waking but without the jolts.
I have tried most all of the adaptogens: Seriphos, Relora, Ashwagandha, L-Theanine, Adrene Vive, Optimal Adrenal, etc. Nothing works. But in the past six months I have begun flushing sensations on face and neck (like a niacin flush) and connect this to high cortisol.
Read “Stop the Thyroid Madness” by Janie A. Bowthorpe which had a section in it on high cortisol. It said to take zinc, holy basil, and phospatidyl serine (which I have already tried and doesn’t work). So now I am trying Holy Basil and zinc supplements. Also drinking Tulsi Tea (holy basil) throughout the day when flushing is bad. Have to be careful with zinc as high doses deplete copper – work with a naturopath to be careful. Nothing to report yet other than Holy Basil seems to decrease the flushing and helps sleep on some nights. Will wait to make a complete assessment after 30 days.
Would love to hear from other high cortisol sufferers, how to control it, and its relation to thyroid disease.
Hi everyone, I’m new to this blog. I was excited to find other people finding answers to lowering high cortisol. I would love to hear feed back on wether the “new old seriphos works. I have very high cortisol and have been trying to find something that will lower it! I’ve struggled with anxiety and panic attacks.
Would Relora help with that also?
Hi Anu, I noticed you have been on “Stop the Thyroid Madness” website. Do you have a thyroid issue? Have you had tested for hashimotos? The thing that helped me, was getting my progesterone levels up along with VitD. BUT I use the progesterone cream AND oral prometrium. I think I posted this on one of Trudys blogs. It happened by accident. But a happy one (using both cream and oral). When I found my anxiety and cortisol lowered,( by DUTCH test, my cortisol was off the charts) I talked to my compounding pharmacist and she said it would make sense as the oral and the cream cover different receptors. Oral is more calming. I also use Relora when I get hyper. I do have thyroid problem, haven’t decided if I have hashimotos or not! Tested at one time and the test showed I was but had test last year and no antibodies!! Hmmmm. hope this helps.
Hello Trudy,
I had been working with a naturopath to lower my very high cortisol and was taking high doses of phosphatidyl serine (PS) and also cortisol manager for 4 months. I continued to have terrible anxiety and insomnia.
A nutritionist recommended I try Enerphos, which is phosphoserine
in a calcium magnesium ethanolamine base. Is this essentially the same as Seriphos ? Have you ever used this with clients or know anyone who has?
Margaret
I have not had any clients use Enerphos and although a few people have reported similar results to Seriphos, more people have said it doesn’t seem to help. I also always look at caffeine, gluten, blood sugar control, the gut, SIBO, low GABA, low serotonin, possible effects of benzos/other medications too – as I’m sure your ND is doing
Does anyone know a good ND in N Al or neighboring state?
I finished 1 bottle of Relora which lasts 40 days if you follow the directions of 3 pills a day. I see little to no improvement in my sleep. It has been a while since I have checked my cortisol so I am doing that today.
The reply links seem to be broken on this page. The only way to comment is to start a new one. I’m on my second bottle of Relora and am slowly building up on Lactium. I’m up to 2 Lactium in the afternoon and 2 before bed. Little improvement in sleep so far though. I did a cortisol test March 18th. No results back yet.
Hi,I have all the symptoms of delayed sleep phase disorder.I sleep ok once I fall asleep, but my hours are like 3am-11am.I’m 56 and this has been going on for years.I wake up feeling fatigued but later in the afternoon begin to perk up.Could this be related to cortisol? Would Seriphos help?
Laura
I haven’t looked into this specific condition: “Delayed sleep phase disorder” but hearing “I sleep ok once I fall asleep, but my hours are like 3am-11am” it makes me think circadian rhythm issue and possible high cortisol in the night or even low serotonin and hence low melatonin. For suspected cortisol issues I’d do a saliva adrenal test before using Seriphos with a client. For suspected serotonin issues I’d do the amino acid questionnaire and trial of tryptophan and/or melatonin – more here http://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/anxiety-amino-acids-overview/
With sleep issues I also always consider gluten, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, SIBO, dysbiosis, parasites, candida, EMFs, blood sugar swings and medication side-effects.
I’m curious – have you been diagnosed with delayed sleep phase disorder? and what have you tried to improve your sleep? Do you also experience anxiety and/or depression?
I have not been “officially” diagnosed but have taken an assessment called AutoMEQ and took it to my Dr. She did not seem particularly concerned “as long as I was sleeping 8 hours.” I have also done research on it…a particularly good website is http://www.circadiansleepdisorders.org/ My chronotype is definitely night owl.
I have tried to minimize blue light in the evening and installed F. lux on my computer. I have not tried melatonin or tryptophan.I do not have depression or anxiety.(although I have suffered from both when I was much younger) Should I have my doctor test cortisol?(she is an integrative Dr.)
Laura
I’d have an adrenal 4 collection saliva panel done if I was working with you. I’d also do a trial or tryptophan and then melatonin – if they are going to work we know in a day or so.
Hi – I’m currently on Paxil and I’ve been tapering down for about two years now. As of late, I’m on 4.2 mg for about two months and experiencing extreme anxiety and insomnia. I was placed on Paxil due to insomnia which I later learned was stressed induced via high cortisol at night. Unfortunately, I couldn’t just get off the Paxil without having withdrawal syndrome. I’m taking a whole foods multivitamin, b-complex, fish oil, vitamin c, magnesium and calcium citrate twice daily with meals. I was sleeping well for the past two years until my recent taper down. I read that Seriphos could help with antidepressant withdrawal insomnia. I’m wondering how many I should take as I tried last night with a single tablet at bedtime and I could not fall asleep until around 1 and I was back awake at 3:30 in the morning. Please provide any advice you can as I’m desperate for sleep. I feel considerably better when I’ve slept. Thank you!
Michelle
Paxil can be challenging to taper off. I use GABA and other nutrients but I do a lot more too. We address ALL possibly underlying factors BEFORE they even start to taper – so blood sugar, gluten, the gut, the adrenals, the sex hormones and so on.
It’s also important to be aware that tapering needs to be done extremely slowly and that taper side-effects are common but being nutritionally in a good place before tapering does help tremendously.
That being said GABA and the other aminos are wonderful for immediate relief so I always use them from day 1.
Seriphos only helps if high cortisol is a factor. I have not heard that it helps with Paxil tapering per se and would love to read that article if you have a link to share please. If cortisol is high the ideal dose of Seripos is 3 a few hours before the high cortisol.
With insomnia I also look at low serotonin and low melatonin too
Hi Trudy, I read Julia Ross’s Mood Cure where she referenced Seriphos. I’ve had an endocrine blood work up which included adrenals, blood glucose, progesterone, estrogen and testosterone, and thyroid. All is normal thankfully! Is there a particular brand of Gaba that you recommend? Also, I’m in Katy, Texas and would like to know if I could enroll in your program for phone consultations?
Michelle
I find adrenal testing in saliva to be more accurate than blood and similar for sex hormones. I start most of my clients on GABA Calm http://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/source-natural-gaba-calm-anxiety/
I have a waiting list right now https://www.everywomanover29.com/services.html
Also forgot to mention that I do feel sleepy naturally but the adrenaline or cortisol keeps me from being able to sleep. It’s like I’m trying to fall asleep but I’m jolted awake by adrenaline or something. I even tried tryptophan once but it instantly made me feel worse so I think I’m not deficient in melatonin but high stressed.
I got my latest cortisol results back. No change. Normal in the morning and high the rest of the day. I started my second bottle of Relora about the same time as I did the test and I was also taking Lactium too. I had to quit Relora due to mild nausea. Nothing seems to help my cortisol levels return to normal.
Jerry
I’d talk to your practitioner about helping you look for possible outside sources of cortisol like cortisone creams, injections, shampoos etc
I use no cortisone creams at all. The only injections I get are flu shots once a year. Shampoos? I wouldn’t have thought that that could be a source of cortisol.
Jerry. Zinc is undoubtedly working for me after 18 months of trying all the adaptogens including Relora. None worked. I take a modest 15mg zinc picolate twice a day although Jane A. Bowthorpe, M. Ed., indicates more can be taken. Do some research on your own and start lower increasing with tolerance. High doses of zinc deplete copper so beware. Ask your doctor. But I am I 7th heaven … been sleeping through the night and no longer feel like Niagra falls is flowing through my veins! Good luck. Anu
Hi Trudy,
Since finding your website and seeing a lot of people’s reactions with several of the aminos and other products that are recommended has encouraged me to look into more natural help with a lot of different diagnoses including severe depression, really high anxiety (both physical and emotional) PTSD and insomnia that has lasted for at least 2 years. I know you recommend tapering off the antidepressants of which I am on 2 being Lithium and Lexapro and also benzodiazepines of which I take 3 times a day. I want to do this properly and did ask my psychiatrist about this and he was highly against making this change which he followed up with a list of reasons to be against it. I did talk to my PCP who referred me to an endocrinologist who did follow up AM and PM blood tests and a saliva test that was inconclusive because I didn’t provide enough of a sample so she wants that one redone. One problem I have is usually dry mouth and was told to use a lemon to help provide more saliva. Overall I was expecting really high cortisol levels but the tests are coming back normal in the morning and slightly low in the afternoon and we will see how the other saliva turns out. I am really at a loss here with an uncooperative physician and results not like I expected. I would be interested in your ideas of how to proceed. I don’t want to try changing things on my own but I would really like to get off of as many of my meds as possible and actually take care of myself in a more natural way.
Thank you so much Trudy for all you do for people trying to make life better.
Julie
Someone wanting to taper off 3 medications really does need to be under the care of a functional medicine doctor who is supportive and knows how to provide guidance and nutritional support. Feel free to share my approach with your doctor and/or use it to help you find the doctor who can help you https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/taper-from-antidepressant-tryptophan-amino-acids/. Dr Kelly Brogan has some good resources on her site too and this interview I did with her was excellent https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/medication-tapering-withdrawal-kelly-brogan/
Keep in mind that high cortisol is just one of many factors that need to be considered. I would suggest starting with all the dietary changes first. My book “The Antanxiety Food Solution” (on Amazon here http://amzn.to/2oPhShW)and Kelly Brogan’s book “A Mind of Your Own” (on Amazon here http://amzn.to/2n3aqmT) are good foundational resources.
Trudy
Thank you for the advice. I did order and receive your book and I need to read it and I may even order an extra copy for my doctor to read and added knowledge when helping patients like myself that have issues with the meds or need a different dimension of care. In my post I did let you know some of the results from the endocrinologist and it appears my issue is not hight cortisol, it’s actually low cortisol. The AM blood test was normal, the PM blood result was a little low and I have to redo the midnight salivary test. I am going to print and show my doctors (psych and endo) your approach as well as Dr. Kelly Brogan’s information because all these meds I’m on are causing terrible side effects and then he prescribes more meds to help the side effects. I will also look into a functional medicine specialist to help with the taper and elimination of the antidepressants and benzo. I really do appreciate all the help and references to other professionals. Everything I have learned from your posts and blog has given me some hope and help that I can eventually have a healthy life that doesn’t revolve around a dozen meds and supplements that don’t really work and sometimes make me feel worse. I’m happy but anxious, it’s been too many years since I’ve felt “normal” I’m almost not sure what to do with it
This message is to answer Jerry’s latest post: “I got my latest cortisol results back. No change. Normal in the morning and high the rest of the day. I started my second bottle of Relora about the same time as I did the test and I was also taking Lactium too. I had to quit Relora due to mild nausea. Nothing seems to help my cortisol levels return to normal.” I have also had high costisol (two tests now) to prove mine is extremely high in the morning and high in the afternoon and evening. I have been unable to sleep through the night for 18 months. Have tried all the adaptogens including Relora. They do nothing. Finally read Jane A. Bowthorpe’s book on “Stop the Thyroid Maddness” (also website stopthethyroidmaddness.com). She recommends Zinc and holy basil, which I have been taking for 30 days and which has lowered my cortisol and almost eliminated the flushing/rushing feeling all day and increased sleep during the night. Research it and give it a try. We are all different but it worked for me.
Anu
Thanks for sharing – so glad you are finding solutions for you!
Thank you for the reply Anu. I have tried holy basil in the past with no good results, but not zinc. How much zinc are you taking? I have an appointment with a doctor next Thursday who treats sleep disorders. I am going to bring him the results from all of my salivary cortisol tests.
Anu, how much holy basil are you taking?
Sorry for the multiple posts, but I searched Zinc on Amazon and there are different types? Exactly what brand and type are you taking Anu?
Hi, Anu, when do you take the zinc? I took zinc supplements for several years 30 mg, one before breakfast and one before dinner and it didn’t help my sleep (I wasn’t taking it for sleep, though). I wondered if you take the zinc before bedtime. I’ve taken Holy Basil which seemed to help sometimes and sometimes not, but maybe the combination before bed would help.
For Robin: I take zinc picolinate 15 mg with breakfast and dinner to reduce high cortisol.
How long after starting zinc picolinate did you notice results? I just ran out to my local vitamin store and picked up a bottle. Hoping for some good results!
Zinc piccolonate is one of the poorest absorbable forms of zinc!! Try zinc balance by Jarrows. Includes the perfect balance of zinc/copper and absorbable form.
Jerry, it took about a week to notice that the flushing and jitteriness subsided and I could sleep through the night. Your dosage may be more or less as we are all different – do some research and read Jane Bowthorpe’s website (search for cortisol) as more details there.
Anu, the stop the thyroid madness website is where I first learned that cortisol could be my problem. It lead me to order a saliva test and that revealed my problem. I didn’t see much about zinc when I searched it for cortisol though, just a brief mention that it could lower it. Thanks again for the recommendation of zinc. I feel like I have tried everything else, just like you.
Jerry, this is where I first read about zinc: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/ps/. Good luck.
Zinc has not been any help for me.
Cortisol goes up in order to break down body tissue to raise blood sugar. You need to eat more carbs, period. You’re probably on some strict diet that doesn’t give you enough fuel to be able to relax.
Hello trudy scott. I am 34 year old guy from sydney australia. I developed sleep maintenance insomnia approx 4 years ago ( was going through a very tough divorce and was unemployed). I tried every herbal remedy posdible without any success.i can go to bed around 9.30-10pm and fall asleep without any trouble. But i always wake up between 2am-4am and unable to go back to sleep. I wake up with a racing mind and sometimes night sweats. I dont think i have depression. In the mornings between 9am and 11am i feel very lethargic and also in the afternoon between 3pm and 5pm very exhausted. However around 7pm i feel very stressed and energatic. We do not have salaiva cortisol testing available here in Australia. I have ordered some seriphos and L-tryptophan mixed with b6 co-enzyme (source naturals) Can you please suggest me how should i start taking the seriphos and L-tryptophan to reset my circadian rhythem. I was a very good sleeper befire this insomnia started (8 hours plus) can i also suppliment with l-glutamine during the day to try and stabilize my blood sugar level? Thanks heaps Moe
Moey
I can’t consult via the blog. I would suggest finding a naturopath to work with and have them do adrenal saliva testing which is available in Australia. If I was working with you I’d not have you start Seriphos without this test. With the nightsweats I’d also consider parasites as a factor.
I would have you do the amino acid questionnaire and do a tryptophan trial as described here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/
And yes blood sugar stability is key for sleep so quality animal protein at breakfast and glutamine is something I have all my clients too.
Michael smith from planet naturopath can help you in australia. He does Skype consults and can send you a kit in the mail for testing. He’s been helping me. Good luck!!
Hey Moey, i have the exact same problem after long term intense stress. Have you found any further information after you posted this? Might be worthwhile getting in contact?
Hi guys I used seriphos last night for the first time , it says original formula on bottle , so after a hour I started to feel mellow so went to bed where I just lay and could not sleep 3 hours later I started to have a panic attack I didn’t like the feeling my chest felt tight and I felt jittery on it and I couldn’t sleep I drank 2 pints of water and tried to go to sleep but I’ve lay in bed for 9hours waiting for feeling to pass , do people usually feel weird the first time I’m terrified to try it again I feel wiped out today now after my adrenaline rush last nite , my saliva cortisol was 3 highs off the chart , im not a very anxious person or have any stress apart from my adrenal fatigue,
The first time I ever took it I slept well. It is about the only thing that has worked, but after the 2nd or 3rd night I began getting horrific, very vivid nightmares and I would wake up with a headache so I can’t take it. It definitely seems to do weird things to some people.
Still wondering about the 1000mg as the low amount of magnesium and calcium and proprietary blend don’t add up to 1000. Can we break the capsule in half and pour in a smoothie? I’m leary of such a high dose.
Hi everyone here chatting about the New Seriphos. I have been getting comments from the blog on seriphos from amazon. The people who were instrumental in bringing the original formula back are really skeptical now. They are saying the new original is not working at all. I have tried it and its iffy! So maybe its not really the true original. I cant believe a company would do that to people. This company has been in business for 30 years but have had different owners. Sometimes high cortisol needs a hammer!!!! And the old original did that, but this “new original” doesn’t appear to be working as well. FYI You can go on Amazon and look at new original seriphos and then scroll down to read the blogs, but try to read the latest in this month. More enlightening.
Kaye
Right after this comment of yours I asked my community on facebook and the majority of people said the new Seriphos is working as expected.
I’d love to know who you are referring to here? “The people who were instrumental in bringing the original formula back are really skeptical now. They are saying the new original is not working at all.”
Trudy!!! Wow I went to Amazon and couldn’t find the reviews!!! SO when they comment again I will forward the info to you. I even put their names in and got nothing. Strange huh? Love
Kaye
Strange for sure and not good if negative reviews are being deleted – wow!
I think Kaye would be referring to the long review reply thread on Amazon started by Steve Gibson who was in a long battle with Interplexus to get them to admit that changing the formula away from including Phoshorylated Serine was a disaster.
It can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/Interplexus-Seriphos-Capsules-100-Count/product-reviews/B000N23AE8
There are now multiple Seriphos listings on Amazon so the reviews are not deleted – just diluted!
I can say for certain that the “Original Formula” Seriphos I received was an entirely different substance from the old, “real” Seriphos. Different taste, colour, smell and much harder packed than the original, not a subltle difference at all. It was entirely ineffective for me – as far as I’m concerned Interplexus are defrauding their customer base and will likely not survive in the market for long now that they no longer have the outstanding cortisol control product. Not to say that the new formula won’t work for some people, but it bears zero resemblance to the original.
I thought I wrote here, but I don’t see my post. I am about to try Seriphos. I noticed the dosage is 1000 mg of a blend on the bottle. I read elsewhere a person should take 100 mg and build up to 300 mg per day. I don’t want to get sick. Is there some reason that the dose is high maybe related to the blend that is deceptive?
Thanks.
Cheryl
My recommendation has always been 1-3 of the Seriphos a few hours before the high cortisol and this works for most of my clients.
Does this mean taking up to 3,000 mg of seriphos a day then?
I’ve tried so many things to lower cortisol and nothing has worked. Something clicked in the past few days. My cortisol is always high (normal in the morning since morning is supposed to be highest) but as high or higher the rest of the time. I’ve never done a cortisol check in the middle of the night, but it seems like it is a 24 hour thing. There is one type of medication I have been on for the entire time I’ve had chronic insomnia. Proton pump inhibitor for acid reflux. It is a 24 hour medication. I was on it a little while before the insomnia started, but I’ve never gone off of it, just switched brands. Now I read that this type of medication is not as safe as they thought when it first came out. I’ve even read that it can cause some kinds of inflammation (inflammation can lead to higher cortisol…at least I think I read that somewhere) and some people have reported insomnia, but their’s seemed to come on suddenly, unlike me. I have researched some natural solutions to acid reflux and will be starting those as soon as they arrive and I will be quitting the PPI medication. PPI’s cause rebound reflux symptoms when quit so I hope the natural stuff can combat that until it settles down. If this is not the source of my insomnia, I don’t know what else could be?
Jerry
This is a strong possibility and I look at all medications my clients are using and work with them and their doctors to get off those they no longer need. According to this paper: A Review of the Novel Application and Potential Adverse Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28429247 “Long-term use of PPIs may lead to potential adverse effects, such as osteoporotic fracture, renal damage, infection (pneumonia and clostridium difficile infection), rhabdomyolysis, nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12, magnesium and iron), anemia and thrombocytopenia.”
With reflux gluten and other food sensitivities are commonly an a contributing factor.
Hi Jerry, do you know the cause of your acid reflux? Do you know if you are producing enough hydrchoric acid? have you had an upper GI done? You could have gastritis? I recently had and upper GI done and they found gastritis BUT I don’t have any symptoms. Check out gastritis, it can be chronic or acute. BUT if you aren’t producing enough hyro. acid you can have symptoms like acid reflux. Just an FYI…Kaye
If my cortisol was shown to be high in my blood panel would this product help me with anxiety? It is “in the normal range” on the blood panel but its on the HIGH side of normal. Suddenly in March I started having anxiety and flat mood. I have not had a period in two years and well through menopause. I take EPA/DHA – Adapt – DIM plus, Magnisum, and 50 miligram of zoloft – I have a clean diet and exercise regularly. But this low grade anxiety is making me nuts and emotionally and mentally exhausted. I even tried HRT for five weeks and that was a NIGHTMARE. Can this product help me and curious if you think I should stop taking Adapt now – it worked for years but maybe now I don’t need it anymore?!
Mindy
I’m afraid I can’t offer you specific advice but can share I use saliva cortisol testing and when someone has anxiety the first thing I consider is low serotonin and low GABA and do trials of tryptophan and GABA https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/
Hi Trudy!
Thank you SO much for your quick and informative response. I too
thought it might be Serotonin so I started Sam-e. I don’t think its
Gaba because about a month ago I took a supplement to support Gaba
and I had an awful reaction in the evening with a crazy racing
heart. Not doing that again. Based on your email I will had Vitamin
C. I also read Folic Acid is good for supporting Serotonin. I am
ALSO going to take a saliva test in hopes of gaining some accurate
data.
Again, thank you Trudy. Your response provided some much-needed
support and reassurance when I most needed it. I am grateful for
what you do.
Mindy
Hi Trudy,
I did a four point saliva test and have all day highs! I was trying swansons PS and wasn’t seeing a difference. I just bought seriphos hoping to see better results. My question is, you said to take 1-3 pills a few hours before a nighttime high, if I have all day highs can I take that many before each high?
Thank you,
Jill
Jill
I suggest discussing this with your practitioner and following his/her guidelines. When I see all day highs we make sure there was no contamination or prior use of cortisone/cortisol raising products. If it’s confirmed valid we use adrenal adaptogens and still only use up to 3 Seriphos at night. We may use lactium in the day if anxiety/adrenalin-type surges are happening
Hi Trudy! Kaye here again….. fyi I have been on a regimen of 2 seriphos ( original formula) before bed faithfully for about 6 weeks. WHAT a difference! My body has settled down a lot. I do have episode of hyperness during the day, BUT have found a new product from DoTerra. Its an oral product called Serenity. I have the oil Serentity and have used it without success in the past. My acupuncturist recommended the oral to me! Cannot tell you how it has helped. It contains lavender, l theanine, passionflower, german chamomile and lemon balm. Excellent product for those where nothing works after awhile.
The neurotransmitter test results were what I expected. Normal/low serotonin, low/normal GABA, high normal glutamate, normal dopa, high 5-HIAA rest were normal. They recommended me taking Travacor from Neurscience but haven’t gotten it yet.
You have talked many times about 5-HTP as a mood supporter. Would you expand on its capability to promote sleep through the night? It comes in 100mg caps and instructions are to take once a day but I understand its effect is cumulative and one should take for two weeks before seeing results. Is that true? Also, should one increase to two caps before bedtime after two weeks and them to three caps after the fourth week? Are not large doses dangerous to take producing heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, and muscle problems? May I ask what you recommend for high nighttime cortisol and 2 am waking?
Hi Trudy, wondering if you have any experience with Rhodiola for adrenal support and Zembrin for mood.
Hello Trudy,
I’ve had high nighttime cortisol levels for many years, as measured by saliva sample tests. Under a naturopath’s directions, I’ve tried more supplements than I can remember, with most of them having no effect and some of them having the opposite effect of what was intended. Though I am desperate for something, anything to help me sleep, I appear to be a contrary type. What works for others seems to worsen my own similar symptoms.
When I first tried Seriphos (the original formula), I experienced a worsening of insomnia (sleep onset, multiple nighttime awakenings [many times lying awake for hours], and early-morning awakenings). I began to feel more “wired and tired” and even experienced what others describe as anxiety-like symptoms. Additionally, BHRT has not improved my sleep much, if at all. I’ve been tested for sleep apnea as well, which I don’t have. I’m exhausted.
Recently, I’ve stumbled upon a few comments from others who also have high nighttime cortisol, stating that once they “played around” (though attempting to stave off insomnia due to high cortisol is no fun at all) with the dosage and times of day they took Seriphos, they were finally able to get some relief. These people began taking Seriphos in the morning and around noon, and, lo and behold, they were able to sleep better than in years.
Since I had a leftover half-bottle in my arsenal of supplements, I tried it. Instead of taking two around 6 pm and 10 pm, as directed by a naturopath, for the past three days I’ve taken two around 7 am and two around noon. For the past two nights, I’ve slept from about 10 pm to 5:30 am with a few brief awakenings. Though this may seem like a simple night’s sleep to some, this is an absolute dream come true for me. What if I am dreaming?
It’s only been two days, but, for the first time in many years, I am hopeful that I’m finally going to sleep again.
Can anyone explain this? Has anyone had similar experiences with dosages and the times of day taken? How can taking Seriphos so many hours before cortisol levels begin to rise and peak work? Is it due to slow metabolism?
Hi
I’m really glad to hear you have found a solution and appreciate you sharing it here as it may help others. I have not used this timing approach or heard anyone else do it but if it works I can only guess it’s a delayed reaction that is providing the benefits.
Do you take them with or without food?
I have had the exact same experience with Seriphos actually worsening my insomnia when taken at bedtime. I am going to try the 2 @ 7 a.m. and 2 @ noon. I will give a followup report. I understoid you could only take up to 3 in 24 hours, but I too am desperate.
P.s. it is a real shame that the people who typically need this are around my age, late 60s to 70s. Those who charge for consultations are typicalky charging more than we can afford.
Btw, my cortisol is high around 1 to 3 in the a.m. I hope that was what was meant by “high night time cortisol.”
Just as an aside, the staff physician at Interplexus says that Seriphos has ti be taken 30 minutes before the spike. If that is true, then one would have to set an alarm, waking up, and defeating tge whole purpose.
Since I began the Julia Ross protocol ( on my own, essentially), I have cured my sleep onset insomnia with tryptophan and melatonin.
The down side is that no matter how I have tried to take the Seriphos, my early mornings have not only been worse, but so has my sleep in general. Though I can fall asleep easily, my sleep is light with frequent awakenings.
I have never seemed to be able to take vitamins and minerals without sleep problems, so my problems could also be due to those supplements, particularly the B vits.
I have stopped everything except the tryptophan and melatonin as of today. I also plan to try to taper off those to see if I can get by without them.
High cortisol is a symptom. I am going to concentrate less on it and more on reducing my general stress in hopes that will work.
I am a retired pharmacist, so instituting this on my own had to be easier for me, but Mood Cure only gives a rough outline of supplements.
Woe unto those of us who cannot afford the consultation fees of those who work with this program. We are up the creek.
Hi Janie
I don’t ever have clients wake in the night to take Seriphos and the day time dosing is not something I’ve done with clients but it could work. And not everyone responds to Seriphos. I will also look at using Biotics Research Destress (lactium) or magnolia (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/), finding the root of the high cortisol (parasites, meds, gluten/grains, SIBO etc) and even topical sources that could be keeping cortisol high (many cosmetics can do this).
Many in my community find solutions for themselves by following recommendations in my book The Antianxiety Food Solution, Julia’s book and my blog and by listening to interviews from The Anxiety Summits (www.theanxietysummit.com) but I agree it can be challenging for many trying to figure things out alone. I even prefer to work with a practitioner when I am dealing with a health issue. I wish it was all covered by insurance.
Hi Trudy! Gees after reading all these texts on Seriphos, it really seems to be a “mystery” supplement!! Wow! I previously left a comment on here that I was taking 2 Seriphos before bed and was still having some hyperness during the day. SO big step for me, I decided to try 3 before bed! And wow it really helped again. but Ive been on this regimen since 1st of Aug. so do I really have to go off it? Should I get another saliva test done to check cortisol levels? I rarely have to use anything now during the day and if I do, oh well, emotionally that’s how I feel, I just take DoTerra oral serentity and sometimes with a 5mg. oral lavender and things get better. Still don’t know the cause of my high cortisol episodes, sigh, but as you know I have had every test under the sun. thanks for being here for us…… love to u in Australia….:)
Hi Trudy….
Firstly i must say thank you so much for this amazing website…
I’m a male in the uk and i have tried every macho thing i can to try to feel better but i’ve gotten nowhere.
But the info from everywomanover29 is starting to tip the balance back in my favour…..
Over the last 5 years i have tried everything to feel my old self again after more than 3 Major life changing incidents…..
I have felt much better in myself since following your website advice and slowly implementing the supplements you recommend for gaba deffiency …..
I must add that since following your advice my libido has started to return.
I have even been under an endocrinologist who prescribed Testosterone replacement therapy, but my libido was not as good as it is now since starting gaba supplements & seriphos for high cortisol…
So for that Trudy i’m truly gratefull to you.
I just would like to know if you have ever experienced flu like symptoms from Seriphos????
Within 30 mins of taking a 3rd of a cap under my tongue in the morning i start with a runny nose and sweating….
I’m not sure whether its a detox reaction or an allergy.
I must add though that although it makes me feel like i’ve got a cold, it works absolute wonders for my high morning/evening cortisol and quietens my mind beautifully.
Have you ever heard of this kind of reaction with your patients & does it usually pass ??
Warmest regards from Manchester.
Bud Smith
Bud
Glad to hear the GABA and Seriphos is helping you. I don’t have clients continue with supplements that cause an adverse reaction and flu-like symptoms, runny nose and sweating sounds like an allergic reaction (even though I’ve not had this feedback from anyone using Seriphos). Relora may be another option https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/ or even astragalus https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/astragalus-anxiety-cortisol-immunity-neuroprotection/
Just sharing some feedback received on Facebook:
“What helps me tremendously is Seriphos (InterPlexis brand) one capsule in the evening. Regular phosphorylated serine does nothing only Seriphos formula works for me. In fact they changed the formula a few years back and people complained so much over it being ineffective that they went back to old formula so make you buy the original version it has a red triangle on top left corner. Seriphos is used for high cortisol and insomnia but for me its completely wipes out any anxiety. During the day if I still feel anxious I take Lysine (precursor to B6) and it helps tremendously. “
Hi Trudy, haven’t chatted for awhile so thought I would ask you about Dr. Michael Platt Md today, and if you are aware of his practice. He has written 3 books about a collection of symptoms called “adrenaline dominance.” In fact the lastest book is titled Adrenaline Dominance. I bought two of his books (the third is written for drs.) It seems his fix is using progesterone before you eat. (I’m being simplistic here). I think hes worth checking into. Maybe its not just THAT you take progesterone but WHEN you take it is important too. From my understanding, progesterone doesn’t last long in the system, so it could be beneficial to use more often during the day to keep levels up? Just wanted to get this out there to you for your opinion or to maybe check him out. He does say in his experience in his practice anyone who has high cortisol levels has adrenaline dominance. I am using 3 seriphos before bed and in middle of the night I’m using valerian root and in daytime I’m using Relora. Also, am trying to increase progesterone. This combo seems to be keeping me more stable consistently than anything else I have tried. thank you girl, will be looking forward to seeing you on Dr. Hymans new conference coming Jan. 17th……Love K
Kaye
His work is new to me but I’ll add it to the list of things to look into – thanks
Hi Trudy:
My doctor has me on Seriphos for the past 5 years or so b/c my adrenal gland flatlined. It’s helped tremendously but I’m wondering if a side effect is acid re flux? I take it right before I go to sleep (as it makes me very sleepy if I take it earlier in the evening) but I’ve noticed that I have acid re flux soon after. I don’t see where that’s a known side effect. Just curious if you’ve had others comment on this.
Thanks!
Wendy
I have not had this feedback but have not ever had anyone take Seriphos long-term. I also use it for lowering high cortisol and not flat-lined cortisol. When clients have suspected side-effects I have them stop or reduce the supplement so we can figure it out. Let us know what you figure out.
What about enerphos? Can I use it instead of seriphos? the price is much better…
Sandro
I only have clinical experience with Seriphos so can’t comment based on feedback from my clients. I do know many people used Enerphos when Seriphos formula changed – some felt it helped and others didn’t.
OK. THANK YOU, TRUDY!!! 🙂
Hi Trudy! Is it harmful to take the seriphos for a long time to contain the effects of cortisol? What about phosphatidylserine? Can we take it forever as a supplement? thank you
Hi Trudy! Is it harmful to take the seriphos for a long time to contain the effects of cortisol? What about phosphatidylserine? Can we take it forever as a supplement? thank you
Sandro
It is recommended to take a break from Seriphos after 3 months, ideally finding the root cause of the high cortisol
Hello, I am a 44 year old male that just switched shifts at work. I have been on 2nd shift for 10 years and usually never had a problem sleeping from 12:00 am to 7 or 8 am. The only time I had a problem sleeping was when I had to work dayshift occasionally and it was a mental thing knowing that I had to get up early. I worked dayshift before this job for 12 years and had to getup at 6 am with no problems. As of 6 weeks ago, my alarm is set for 4:50 am to get to work on time. I just can’t seem to get adjusted. It’s like my body still wants to sleep at midnight like I have for the past 10 years. I have been using prescribed Xanax and it helps but I don’t want to continue long term. Due you have any suggestions?
Thank you
Jesse
I would get 4 x adrenal cortisol tests in saliva and support the adrenals based on this. You are wise not to want to continue Xanax and quite frankly I’m not impressed that this is the advice given to you. Don’t forget it’s not intended to be used longer than 2 weeks.
After reading some of your blog, I decided to purchase a trial pack of aminos. I started with gaba calm 1 pill. It made me relaxed a bit. 1/2 hour later I took 1 more. I then went to lay down. I felt like my heart was racing a bit and knew I couldn’t sleep so I took vitamin c and then my Xanax. I have tried melatonin before with no luck. I am currently taking Cymbalta for tarsal tunnel syndrome in the foot which is a nerve pain similar to carpal tunnel. I read on your website that you shouldn’t mix tryptophan and snri’s. So I decided to try the seriphos. I took 1 at 530 pm and definitely felt very relaxed. I ate supper at 6:30 and felt normal again. I then waited until 8:10 to take 2 more. I laid down at 9:00. I still couldn’t sleep so I took my Xanax. The second dose of seriphos I just swallowed the pills, whereas the first time I emptied into water. I don’t know if that should make a difference or not. Any suggestions? Also, is there a certain brand/website you recommend for adrenal cortisol test?
Thank you
Jesse
I can’t offer specific advice via the blog but when someone is using Xanax it is often a factor with racing heart and insomnia and with unpredictable results with the amino acids. My trial of the amino acids are done in the day time based on symptoms on the questionnaire – this way it’s easier to figure out a good starting dose when someone needs them at night. Also one night isn’t enough in case something else messed up the trial.
I also only use Seriphos when we know cortisol is high and have not had anyone open a capsule. I use Diagnostechs for the adrenal saliva test.
I have been taking seriphos for 3 weeks now. 1 capsule in the morning, 1 at dinner (6 pm) and 2 at about 9 pm. My sleep has been better, but I still wake up at 4 am. Any tips on how I could solve that? I don’t know if increasing the night time dosage will make any difference. I have tried taking 3 caps at night but didn’t notice a change.
MJ
When cortisol is high at 4pm it’s best to use 3 Seriphos at bedtime. But sleep issues can be due to many factors – sex hormone imbalances like low progesterone, SIBO, gluten and/or other grains, low GABA, low serotonin, too much WiFi and light late and even medication side-effects
Thanks. I’ll try using 3 at night. I do have low progesterone which I’m trying to get under control.
MJ, did this work better for you? I have very early morning waking too .
Taking 3 capsules at night did not work. I just started eating a little protein when I wake up at night. I will let you know if there is any improvement in a few weeks.
Hello Trudy, I took your advice and did a 4 panel adrenal test. It showed low cortisol on all 4. Worse In the morning with low dhea as well. What do you normally recommend? Thank you
Jesse
A B complex, extra pantothenic acid, extra C, an adaptogenic herb and sometimes more than one and then looking for why it’s low and addressing that – like food sensitivities, metals, parasites. Also stress reduction and limiting strenuous exercise
If my blood sugar is the reason why I wake up at night, and I eat an amount of protein when I wake or before I go to sleep, how long should It take to see improvement?
MJ
If it’s only due to low blood sugar, I would expect results the first time and every time thereafter.
How would I test for food sensitivities, metals, or parasites? Thank you so much!!!
A hair mineral analysis test is the most effective ways to find out what metals you are toxic in. (TEI and ARL are the most accurate) Maybe someone else can help answer your question about the food sensitivities and parasites.
Dear friends with sleep issues and Trudy,
I started the Seriphos formula issue with you about two years ago. I have high cortisol and my Functional Medicine doctor prescribed Interplexus Seriphos to help with my sleep issues: falling asleep but waking many times through the night, sometimes unable to get back to sleep for hours. I took the excellent Seriphos for six months and then began to notice it was no longer working sometime in spring of 2017. When looking further into it, found they had drastically changed the formula. About a year later they said they went back to the original formula but I tried it and it still didn’t work. Interplexus wouldn’t give an exact list of ingredients as it is a proprietary formula. So much for Seriphos.
About a month ago I started to compile a list of all the side effects of the medications I was taking as some of them were affecting me badly. I listed a blood pressure medication I have been taking for 40 years and made a chart of all the side effects. Lo and behold, one of the side effects was sleep interruption or inability to sleep. I used to take it once a day after breakfast but about two years ago, my doctor had prescribed that I double the dosage to another after dinner since my blood pressure was too high – and my sleep issues began. Now I have finally made the connection to medications and sleep issues and am trying to figure out how I can sleep through the night without waking. Three weeks ago I changed the evening dosage to before two o’clock and to my delight, have been sleeping through the night for the past three weeks!
So beware, even with high cortisol (tested), it wasn’t the cortisol keeping me awake but the DOCTOR PRESCRIBED MEDICATION (which is why all the adaptogens I tried didn’t work). So do yourself a favor, list all medications you are taking, go online and find out the side effects, make yourself a chart, and find the meds which are keeping you awake. Then discuss with your doctor how to eliminate or reduce that medication. If this message helps only one other person – I will be happy.
Anu
Thanks for coming and posting here and well done for making the connection! So happy you are sleeping through! This is something I do with all my clients and their medications, which all have side-effects – and as you say many affect sleep. That particular medication may have caused the high cortisol but the Seriphos wasn’t enough to lower it because it the medication use was ongoing.
I’d also encourage you to seek nutritional solutions for high blood pressure so the medication can be eliminated completely. Many of these meds also cause nutrient depletions like low B6, low folate, low b12, low zinc etc. Google “drug-induced nutrient depletions” and look up your meds.
Hello Trudy, I ordered the vitamin c, b complex, and pantothenic acid for the low cortisol that my saliva test showed. It also showed low Dhea, will these supplments help to raise the Dhea as well? Also, would a bio identical hydrocortisone work the same as an adaptogen? If not, what would be a couple of the better adaptagens? Thank you so much for all you do!!!
Hello Trudy, I ordered the supplements that you recommended for low cortisol that my saliva test showed. It also showed low Dhea, will these supplments help to raise the Dhea as well? Also, would a bio identical hydrocortisone work the same as an adaptogen? If not, what would be a couple of the better adaptagens? Thank you so much for all you do!!!
Hi Trudy –
Our Seriphos is scheduled to arrive tomorrow – yay! Thank you so much for this.
My husband has had insomnia for over a month & has tried Belsomra (prescription), Tylenol PM & Nyquil to stay asleep. All three worked decently the first night & no help after. I don’t like the idea of medication, but didn’t have alternatives for him at the time. What are your thoughts on those types of medication for sleep? It would help the “natural path” cause if I could give him a couple of sentences about reasons to avoid them. I’m very hopeful that Seriphos is the answer.
Thank you! 🙂
I hope it helps him. I have been using f the seriphos but i feel it has made my sleep worse. I wake more now than ever. I am stopping the seriphos and see if that is the problem. I have been on numerous sleep meds unfortunately. They don’t even work.i am taking tryptophan based on the questionnaire and use low dose melatonin. It has helped my mood but not my sleep. Been on Trazodone,Remeron, Seroquel, Temazepam, Ambien, lunesta. Nothing works. I wake all night long. I am working on adrenals and thyroid. My last saliva test was very high at night. I don’t know why. I am going to try relora and lactium. My doc is very good. Supports me trying to figure it out naturally if I can but its been a year. I am gluten free, dairy free. Mineral balance,had htma. Acupuncture,coffee enemas. Sleep study. Therapy. Meditation. Even went for a mental evaluation. They said I could take an antidepressant if I want. Even my doc though that should be a last resort. Holy basil was awful for me. I am about to give up. Never took a med my whole life. Got vertigo, been like this ever since. A whole year. I had cat scans, MRIs. I just don’t know what else to try.
Even do sleep restriction. Sunlight at right times of day. Had all sex hormones checked. No menopause. Progesterone a little low but not bad. Checked for parasites and lyme with Igenix.Sorry for venting….but insomnia is ruining my life. 🙁
Rebecca
Some other factors to consider – SIBO, candida, food sensitivities and EMF/WiFi/Smart meter exposure. I also always provide GABA support and address low blood sugar (glutamine and chromium are very helpful for this as is quality animal protein at breakfast)
Hi Trudy, I tried to reply twice but it hasn’t posted. I apologize if this is a repeat post.
I have been checked for sibo and candida. Nothing found. I haven’t been checked for food allergies or histamine. I never had any issues before. I choose to be gluten free and use limited dairy. No milk tho at all. My diet is protein, veggies, healthy fats. Unrefined carbs toward evening and dinner. My breakfast is always full of protein and fat , also bone broth.
My phone is always in airplane mode at night and our WiFi is in a Faraday cage and turned off at night. As for the smart meter, I fought that for 6 months but lost. It’s also enclosed in a smartmeter Faraday cage. Thru out my house I have shungite to further protect from emf.
I had an HTMA done and I am working with a practioner that follows Morley Robbins magnesium protocol. I also read lots of Kelly Brogan to do my best to stay away from antidepressants and more drugs. I do her breakfast shake to make sure I have enough fats and I am so disappointed that I am using Temazepam for sleep and it is not working all that well. It’s like taking a nap thru the night. It’s awful. My cognitive function is just diminished. I am taking tryptophan and although helping with mood, hasn’t helped sleep. Perhaps I need to trial Gaba? Constantly working on liver and gut health. Walking in sunshine when I can. I am on your wait list for consultation and would love to work with you. Please consider me if you should have an opening. I have your book and it’s amazing. I am working so hard at this but yet can’t turn it around. Prior to this, I slept my whole life. Even when I had my children. This is especially hard for them. I am doing better a little with the anxiety that seems to come along with insomnia but I am not myself. Thanks again kindly for listening. I follow your blog closely!
Hi Trudy,
Thanks for the reply. I had sibo and candida ruled out. :(. My phone is always in Ariane mode but our WiFi is in a Faraday cage and turned off at night. My smartmeter which I fought them about but lost is also enclosed in a Faraday smartmeter cover. I have shungite stones in my home tongue there deter it. I have trialed tryptophan and felt that it did make an improvement in my mood. Just not sleeping. My diet is protein, veggies and high quality fat. My breakfast is all protein plus some bone broth. I have tried Gaba yet perhaps this should be my next step. I have not been checked for histamines or food issues. Although I haven’t had any my whole life. Also working on mineral balancing with a practioner that knows about Morley’s magnesium protocol. Also working and gut and liver health always. Being on Temazepam is certainly no where I want to be. I am on your waiting listing for consultation. I am Just out of ideas and feel like a zombie. This is so hard on my kids especially. I have no explanation for why this happened. Thanks always kindly Trudy. I have your book and would be excited to work with you.
Hi Trudy, thanks for the reply. It’s really still a struggle. I have been checked for sibo and candida. Nothing there. I haven’t been checked for food sensitivities, although my whole life I have never had any. I removed gluten by choice and use limited dairy. My phone is always in airplane mode while I sleep and our wife router is in a Faraday cage and turned off at night. I also have shungite stonea their the house for extra protection. My smartmeter which I found them on for 6 months but lost is incased in a smartmeter guard. That may not be enough but they will not remove even if I offer to pay additional for them to do so. Taking Temazepam for sleep currently is so painful for me. I never even touched a pharmaceutical before this but after a year, I had to get some sleep. It’s not even sleep now, it’s like napping thru the night. I can’t sleep during the day ever. My diet is protein, veggies, healthy fats. I eat real food. Unrefined carbs towards afternoon and evening. I want to break out of this but not sure what else to do. I have tiraled and still take tryptophan. Although it helps with mood doesn’t help with sleep. Perhaps I need to try Gaba? I am working with a practioner to balance minerals. Not sure if you know Morley’s magnesium group? I am on your waiting list for consultation and would be so excited to work with you. I have your book, it’s amazing. Thanks kindly for replying. Any suggestions appreciated!
Gosh, Trudy….sorry I see i have posted multiple times. I did not mean for that to happen. Please feel free to remove the duplicate post. So sorry, not sure how that happened. 🙁 I also replied in another post,I would like to see or our has the detox video you did with Dr. Blair and Dr. Jockers.is it still available? The link did not work. Thank you always.
Dear Trudy
I am a 36 year old female and suffer from terrible anxiety, fatigue, irritability and insomnia. I bought your wonderful book and have been following your diet guidelines very strictly for the last 2 weeks. I also took your questionnaire and scored very high on low Serotonin, Gaba, endorphins and blood sugar levels. I have found some relief with Gaba (500mg x 2 in the morning and 500mg x 1 if needed during the day. Taking more than 1000mg of Gaba makes me feel strange and increases the pins and needles sensation in my body). 5HTP did absolutely nothing for me after taking it every night for 2 months. Litke’s Trytophan (3 capsules every night) with Magnesium and Vitamin B6 often helps with the sleep issues (although there are days it has no effect depending on how bad my anxiety is). The first time I increased my Tryptophan dosage to 3 capsules (1500mg) I noticed a positive effect on my sleep AND mood which was so wonderful. This lasted for 2 or 3 days but then my mood has gone back down again. I have ordered the Interplexus Seriphos but have two questions:
1. Before taking the Seriphos, should I try increasing the Tryptophan to see if it would have an effect on my mood? If so, what is the maximum dose I can take?
2. Once the Seriphos arrives, should I take it in combination with the Tryptophan, or should I stop the Tryptophan altogether?
Thank you in advance,
Sarah from London, UK
Sarah
I can’t provide specific feedback on the blog but can share what I do with my clients – I keep increasing an amino acid that is providing benefits until no more are seen or until we see an adverse effect (like the pins and needles you feel with GABA). I do like to see if cortisol is high before using Seriphos with a client and do add it to other supplements assuming we have a good baseline with favorable results.
Keep in mind that shifts in hormones can impact results with amino trials.
Hi Trudy, I’m a woman in my mid 30s, I was very athletic until 2 years ago when I suffered from severe insomnia. I used to cycle 200-300 miles a week on my bike and I maintained a svelte 120lbs over 5’7″. But I had to stop my cycling since lack of sleep left me with no energy, so I gradually became sedentary and gained some weight. Early last year my practitioner advised me to try Seriphos (without even looking at my cortisol) and it worked. After a few weeks of taking it (2 after dinner and 2 before bed) I started sleeping well, really well. It has been a year and I am still taking it. After reading some info that it should not exceed three months, I got concerned so I consulted by practitioner and he advised that it is not the same for everybody, and some do need it for longer than others, and he did not indicate that taking it longer would cause any issues. I take a 24 hour break every month as advised and that’s how I know I still need to take it because I always have trouble sleeping on that day. I wanted to get back to cycling so I’ve been trying to these last few weeks, but I noticed that on each of the days I was active, I would have difficulty sleeping that night – my onset would be delayed by 3-5 hours. I do my runs from 6am and end before lunch so I didn’t think it would affect my nighttime. Since I’ve been taking Seriphos for a year, I was wondering what it was? Is the exercise spiking my Cortisol? But wouldn’t Seriphos have taken it down low enough so it would not spike? I never experienced sleeplessness from exercising before all this. I asked my practitioner and he advised me to keep on going as the body is adjusting.
Saliva test proved I have high cortisol. What is best brand of phosphatidylserine to take? And 100mg three times a day or one 300mg at night?
I just heard you need breaks from taking seriphos…I’ve been taking one before bed for a year! Rare occasion I may forget it. I dont think it always helps and I guess I’ve been not taking it at right time or not enough. What now?? Pls help. My adrenals are crashing and need sleep. Do I take more? I have ashwaganda and other herbs too
Hi Trudy,
Relora is working surely but slowly. So I do recommend as a safe alternative to Seriphos (if clients with high cortisol find it’s not working). And you can take it as long as you would with a Multivitamin – in the sense that you can take it for a long term solution. I have very high cortisol in the morning, and I want to take the maximum does. So how would I do that? Is it best to spread it across the day, or 2 in the morning and 1 in the evening a good idea?
And how long will it take to normalise cortisol, or at least to feel like your somewhat feeling back on the right track?
Thanks
Jon
Glad to hear Relora is helping but I can’t offer specific advice via the blog. I can share that we need to be working on the root cause (gluten, stress, toxins, low blood sugar, infections etc) of the high cortisol at the same time and can expect to shift some significant shifts in 1-3 months.
Ok thank you. I noticed people like yourself and Julia Ross say not to take Seriphos for more than 3 months total. My high cortisol is so bad and I think I may be taking it longer. Is it ok to take it for more than 3 months? I heard 9 months is the maximum?
Jon
Hi Trudy, is there any harm in taking Seriphos (3 x a day) more than 3 months?
Thank you
Jon
Max of 3 months back to back has always been the recommendation and then taking a break. Ideally as dietary and lifestyle factors + gut health health and anything else that may be considered stressors – are being addressed, the adrenals should need less and less support
Hi bbn I’d like to know the same. I’ve taken for a year I think. 2nd time around. Also…dr said there is something toxic in it!….??
I took half dose 2 nights and none last night. I’ve been feeling a wreck for a while now too…pls help
Sorry for the typo above…I want to ad dr did cortisol test by blood and it stayed at 15 and dint go up so he said I dont have adrenal fatigue but I’m not responding to stress correctly. My body is on hypersensitive alert! It’s scary and exhausting . Can I get your opinion? Having a bad day and worried my hpa axis will never heal. And I’ll have a breakdown. Thank you for your help!
Hi Turdy, thanks for the above answer.
Serious question and a question I think your viewers will appreciate. Do you recommend adding Lecithin/Soy Lecithin into a long-term diet for combating cortisol. Is it a good idea alongside Seriphos?
Thanks
Trudy,
Seriphos. On 2-17-17, you posted Interplexus’ response to your questions. I found them to be short and inadequate. I tried the new formula with the red flag (for 30 days) post April 2017 but it did not work like the original so I stopped. Have you heard from others about Seriphos lowering high cortisol as it didn’t work for me? Also, you discuss using GABA starting small and working up … I started with 250 mg in summer of 2019 and worked to 500 mg/day. Nothing. Then you discussed adding L-Theanine 200 mg. So I started 500mg GABA with 200mg L-Theanine and worked up to that three times a day under a doctor’s supervision. What a difference. The rushing feeling with burning red cheeks receded after a week and now I am sleeping through the night after three weeks of GABA and L-Theanine. I do not have any adverse symptoms so far after four months of this regiment but I am still concerned about the high doses and residual effects after long term. I cannot find anything on the internet about this. I have taken the saliva test three times and my cortisol is off the charts. The doctor prescribed melatonin for sleep but one 5mg tab made me wake every hour all night. So I asked for a melatonin test and it was off the charts – high. Everyone is different and one cannot just take a pill before finding out what their chemical constitution is. I’m surprised and in awe that doctors do this. Please cite any references you may know of for treating high cortisol and melatonin. I’d like to take them to my doctor.
Anu
I do have excellent results with Seriphos when cortisol is high but since all have our own unique needs it may not help some folks. Glad to hear the GABA/theanine combination works for you.
Here is one study on Relora for high cortisol https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/. Forest bathing and essential oils help reduce cortisol too https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/bergamot-diazepam-reducing-anxiety/
Thanks, Trudy, for your speedy response. I am always amazed on how you seem to do this with so many followers… In response to Relora to control my highly elevated cortisol: I have used Relora several times over the last three years – especially after 2016 when the original formula of Seriphos was pulled off the market. The bottle says to take 300mg once a day and that never helped any of my constant fight or flight feelings. After reading your response above, I re-reviewed your article on Relora and found: “In this study, the participants used 250mg Relora® 3 times daily for 6 weeks and although mild anxiety was reduced, no changes were observed in cortisol levels. Clearly more research is needed and as with any nutrient, there will be the fact that you may benefit from it and someone else may not.” I am one of those people for whom Relora does not work – although I only took 300mg once a day. I have also been using bergamot and roman chamomile -one drop in tea before bed- to sleep for the past three years. Those two essential oils seem to assist in reducing the number of times I awake during the night although I am still waking every night around 2am – sometimes being able to return to sleep while other times lying awake for hours after. GABA and L-Theanine combination three times a day along with the essential oils seem to be working for me best (although not a cure) and taking my blood pressure medication early in the day seems to help with reducing the rushing feeling and better sleep. I am still anxiously awaiting any research on how best to treat high cortisol and get it back to normal.
Anu
I always look at all the medications my clients are taking – currently and in the past. Blood pressure meds can cause insomnia and so can many others
A year ago a doctor I saw a few times recommended taking NAC for anxiety, 600 twice a day and it has helped plus also said I could take Zen ( GABA and l theanine ) at bedtime which I do some nights if I don’t feel sleepy, and sometimes add melatonin, I have even done sleep therapy which also has helped. The only thing I would like to know is what to take when I wake up at 4am and can’t get back to sleep because of either the mind is ruminating or my heart pounding , seems like my symptoms fit everything, low GABA, low tryptophan and high cortisol! How do I decide what to take when I have symptoms for all in the middle of the night?
Diane
Doing a trial of each is one way to know but best is to figure out what combination prevent the 4am waking altogether. It can be due to high cortisol, low GABA, low serotonin, low blood sugar, SIBO, sex hormone imbalances, EMFs
Dear Trudy, is it true that Seriphos must be taken for 3 months only and then discontinued? If not, what’s the longest uninterrupted period of time for Seriphos usage? Thank you so much.
Dina
Yes typically 3 months on and few weeks off is the recommendation
I would like to know the best place to get Seriphos. Sometimes Amazon isn’t trustworthy about supplements. Is there another company that is reliable to get me the real supplement?
Right now, it seems to me that Gaba doesn’t work for me unless I take at least 3 pills or more. Is Gaba something that your body gets used to so you have to keep taking more and more for it to work? That is what is happening to me. I also take L-Thine and also Melatonin and CBD.
Sometimes they work, but after sleeping for two nights, I can’t sleep at all the 3rd night. Should I take something else? I
Janice
I don’t recommend Amazon for supplements for this reason. You can purchase from my online supplement store – details here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-online-supplement-store-at-fullscript/
There are many factors that can play a role in insomnia – low GABA, low serotonin, high cortisol, EMFs, gluten issues, parasites, hormone imbalances etc so it’s a matter of figuring out the root cause/s and addressing them
And no you don’t need more and more GABA for it to work. As you address diet and lifestyle factors you actually need less and less.
Hi Trudy, thanks so much for all this information. I find Seriphos makes me feel bad the next day, whereas I once had access to a Canadian liposomal cream which had phosphorylated serine in it and it would put me back to sleep wonderfully when I woke too early because of high cortisol. I cannot remember the name and do not seem to be able to trace it any more although that may be because I live in the UK. But I’d love to know – do you or anyone know anything about this or a similar product? It was so amazingly helpful.
Sharon
The only cream I’m familiar with is Apex Adrenacalm which contains phosphatidylserine and some other ingredients
Many thanks, Trudy. That is helpful. Cream is really good as you can apply it when you waken up early – or so I found. (By the way, the Canadian transdermal cream was called Neuroguard by Avicenna). Anyway, thanks again for your helpful work.
I would like to comment on purchasing Seriphos from Amazon. I have used amazon for years for this product. When I receive it, its from Interplexus directly. They include their pamphlets and receipt. A community of us on Amazon raised a huge cry when they changed the formula. They heard and changed it back to its original formula. Just FYI.. the bottle should read original formula. I have heard of other countries duplicating supplements on Amazon but haven’t as yet run into that problem. Have even called the companies direct to make sure Im getting their product. But you just never know, in this societies in these days. But I believe you would be safe ordering in particular seriphos direct. hope this helps….Kaye
Thanks kaye!
Trudy, what is “CEM”?
sorry!! EMFs and not CEM…
Sandro
Electromagnetic frequency – from cell phones, cordless phones, Wi-fi and even appliances
Hello Trudy,
I am interested in trying Seriphos but I take zinc picollinate and S. boullardii with my dinner each night. Are there any contraindications you are aware of for taking it with those two supplements? I am quite a night owl and so I am hoping that maybe the Seriphos can help get my sleep on a better schedule 🙂
Hi there. I wonder if you can help? I strongly suspect I have low serotonin (did your amino acid test). Amongst other things I have depression, OCD, anxiety, overthinking, worry). The trouble is, I can’t tolerate tryptophan or 5HTP (even starting with a split capsule at very low dose). It just makes me feel really weird.i can’t tolerate SSRIs either. Do you have any suggestions on what else I could take?
I also take GABA which I can tolerate although I’m not sure helps much (I do have anxiety and physical/muscle symptoms due to anxiety).
Many thanks
Janet
Janet
I have had some clients use 1/12th of a capsule. Other options are exercise, light therapy and of course addressing diet, gut health and any other nutritional deficiencies like low zind, low iron etc
If you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/store/aafsbook.html
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi Trudy/What Do U think about taking GLYCINE for sleep Problem? Am using it for my knee pain n find that it helps me sleep through the night. Am 66 years old from Mauritius!
Satyaveer
There are a number of studies that show glycine improves sleep. This one discusses it’s effects on temperature regulation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4397399/ Here is one paper which also mentions that glycine is made from serine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28337245/. Seriphos is phosphorylated serine
I assume it’s also helping your keen pain. May I ask how much you are using and how quickly you noticed your sleep improved? What was your sleep like before using the glycine?
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Am using 3 Grams of Life Extension Glycine, 250 Mg of Natural Factors Sensoril n Now Relora 300 Mg, half an hour before going to sleep, n it works perfectly. I go to Bed at 9 pm n get up at 4.30-5.00 AM. Frankly speaking, my sleep improved on the very first day I used them. Am indeed using 3 gms of Glycine for my knee cartilage. I read about Glycine/Cartilage connection from Chris Masterjohn Blog. After reading your Article on Serriphos, I have just ordered it through iHerb n am waiting reception of it.
Hi Trudy, Thank you so much for the helpful and informative content on your site. I’ve learned a lot just from reading through several of your posts.
I know you can’t give specific advice but I’m wondering in a general sense if you know of anyone who has used Seriphos successfully along with Lunesta? I have sky high early morning cortisol levels and Lunesta is the only thing that has provided much relief from really bad insomnia (mostly mid-sleep insomnia but sometimes initiation insomnia also).
I’m thinking about taking 1-2 Seriphos a couple of hours before bedtime, and then Lunesta at bedtime for a possible combined sleep effect. Do you know of any reasons that Seriphos shouldn’t be used with Lunesta?
Thank you in advance!
David
I’m afraid to say I do not know and it would be best to check with your prescribing physician.
Thank you for your honest reply. Unfortunately my physician is not nutritionally minded and I am left to figure out on my own what supplements to take with or in place of pharmaceuticals. The Lunesta stopped working as well so my physician prescribed temazepam. I was very hesitant to take that benzo but desperate for sleep so I went ahead and tried it. I have been careful not to take the Lunesta and temazepam more than 3 nights in a row each, alternating between them in hopes of avoiding serious dependency. I am still not sleeping well, waking up from 3-4 AM and not able to go back to sleep. My physician wants to do a sleep study, which I am willing to do, but with my documented high nighttime (early morning) cortisol, I wonder if that is more likely the issue than sleep apnea, since I awaken about the same time every night. Do you have any experience using Seriphos along with tryptophan? The reason I ask is that I came across a study stating phosphatidylserine is a monamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), and that you should not use an MAOI with a drug or supplement such as tryptophan that raises serotonin. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3942801/
“The combination of MAOIs with precursors such as L-tryptophan or 5-HTP pose a particularly acute risk of life-threatening serotonin syndrome.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syndrome
David
I have used Seriphos with tryptophan (and 5-HTP) for over 10 years with clients and not seen this to be an issue. Julia Ross, my mentor did the same for over 10 years before that.
There is also no SSRI warning (like you see on say tryptophan products) on phosphatidylserine products or Seriphos. There is also no research on phosphatidylserine and serotonin syndrome, and no warnings about this on webmd https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/phosphatidylserine-uses-and-risks
This research is new to me, despite being published in 1986. However, it does refer to MAO-B and serotonin is broken down by MAO-A.
Finding a supportive physician is obviously ideal. Next best is discussing medication interactions/concerns with the pharmacist.
Thank you so much, Trudy, for letting me know you and Julia have used Seriphos with tryptophan without seeing any issues related to serotonin syndrome. Although my physician is not nutritionally oriented, my pharmacist is a little more so. He recommends CBD oil to some patients as a natural treatment for some conditions including insomnia. Thanks again, and have a lovely day!
Hi Trudy, what is the best method to have cortisol levels assessed? I assume high cortisol could present physically as high heart rate. Are you aware of any options in Australia other than seriphos – as it seems hard to find. Thank you.
Kel
I use saliva testing and yes high heart rate could be a symptom (but other causes should always be checked) and also waking with a jolt or adrenalin rush.
In this blog I shared that I also looked into Relora, a standardized/patented Magnolia bark extract and Phellodendron bark extract, as a very viable alternative https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/magnolia-officinalis-phellodendron-amurense-relora-cortisol-stress-anxiety/
In this blog I share that a link to this blog – Seriphos has been reformulated – what do I use to lower high cortisol? https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/seriphos-reformulated-high-cortisol/
Are you aware that highlighted text is a link to another blog with additional information? 🙂
Finally iherb is a good source for Seriphos and many other products https://www.iherb.com/?rcode=BAN2021
I have ordered the Seriphos. I struggle with restless sleep, waking several times a night with anxiety. I then suffer early morning waking and and can’t get back to sleep until it’s time for me to actually get out of bed. I started taking the Seriphos (1 before bed) after I read about those mid-night anxiety attacks. What dosages would you recommend for these conditions? Nothing is helping, e,g, Tryptophan, Cortisol Manager, or Gaba Calm Lozenges. I’m actually anxious about going to bed at night and dreading the anxiety-filled mornings. Lasts all day. Thank you.
Annette
I only have clients use Seriphos when we know cortisol is high based on adrenal saliva testing. And have them take 3 Seriphos before bed. For early morning high cortisol, I find Lactium to be helpful https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/lactium-alpha-s1-casein-hydrolysate-hydrolyzed-casein-for-lowering-high-cortisol-reducing-anxiety-and-improving-sleep/
We also explore factors that could be contributing to restless sleep: gluten, sugar, caffeine, oxalates, SIBO/IBS, poor bile production etc
How gest to help heal from PAWS
Gary
If you are referring to Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome can you share what substance and what symptoms?
yes insomnia, heart palpitations, anxity 9 months no ambien
I have been in. PAWS, POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL FOR LAST 9 MONTHS , of course cortisol is a issue. huge issue, will this product be of help ?
Gary
Sorry to hear. When cortisol is high on a saliva test I always start with Seriphos and have seen it work well after medication tapering. With insomnia, heart palpitations and anxiety I also always assess for low GABA and low serotonin and use GABA and/or tryptophan. I do not use 5-HTP when cortisol is high.
Ambien affects GABA levels so GABA receptors may be problematic so theanine, taurine and even melatonin can help in some cases.
As always getting nutritionally stable is key for all tapering/PAWS – so no gluten, caffeine, sugar, real whole food, quality animal protein, eating for blood sugar stability (which further supports the adrenals), healthy fats etc and zinc/B6/D/B complex if needed i.e. everything covered in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
when you have a client that is dealing with PAWS..WHAT WOULD BE YOU, PROTOCOL
Hi Trudy!
After 3 years of symptoms I was finally diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2019 likely from Very chronic stress from a very traumatic 9 year marriage that ended in 2017. I was also recently diagnosed with PMDD (which I suspect is from Thyroid not being optimal?). Okay so several years into Hashimotos I’m hitting a wall with medication. My brain doesn’t tolerate Ashwagandha for stress and my body doesn’t seem to like natural Thyroid hormone. I’m currently on synthetic T3 and T4 which always worked in the past.
Additionally, I KNOW from a DUTCH test that I have low Testosterone. However, I also have normal Estrogen, Progesterone, and DHEA. So my doctor (Functional) doesn’t want to give me Testosterone until she double checks it several months out from the DUTCH test as she is conflicted with why my DHEA and estrogen looking normal but my Testosterone is still off. She’s also concerned about starting Testosterone because I’m only 33. She hypothesized that my body may be robbing testosterone to make Cortisol? I think that’s what she suggested? Anyways, my question is, in your opinion should I be jumping on finding a new Dr. who won’t hesitate to start me on a compounded Testosterone? I’ve heard natural Testosterone is Good for many Hashimotos patients so naturally I’m paranoid about my Dr. being hesitant to prescribe, especially when I have a DUTCH showing Low Testosterone.
Second question is, will addressing my cortisol naturally solve my Testosterone issues and then will that potentially reduce my Hashimoto’s symptoms? Trying to learn what comes first in this chicken/egg, Thyroid/sex hormone balancing game. I don’t know if I should just throw all of my money and time at correcting my cortisol or if I should address my low Testosterone first or both simultaneously? Regarding optimizing my T3/T4 treatment, I can never quite get optimal and then quickly cross over into Hyper symptoms the higher I go on T3 so something is definitely missing.
For added context, I’ve been in a very chronic high stress situation for years and am dealing with some Trauma. I can’t get out of it yet and there is potential for it to be long lasting. I’ve been privileged enough to receive pretty good therapy including EMDR but my body needs extra support.
Thank you!
Jessica
Jessica
I can’t offer specific help via the blog and I would go with the guidance being provided by your functional medicine doctor. I would focus on adrenal support as this does have ripple down effects for the other hormones.
Hopefully you can get out of the stressful traumatic situation soon and optimize diet for adrenal and thyroid health in the meantime. My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/ is a great resource especially around eating for blood sugar control (has a big impact on adrenals)
And “Hashimoto’s Protocol” by Dr Izabella Wentz is my go-to for clients with Hashimoto’s https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/hashimotos-protocol-izabella-wentz/